WARS 

07  THB 

WESTERN  BORDER 

OB, 

NEW  HOMES  AND  A  STRANGE  PEOPLE. 


BY 

G.  DOUGLAS  BREWERTON, 

AUTHOR  OF  "  A  RIDE  WITH  KIT  OARSON,"  "  OAMP  FIRE  YARNS,"  ETC. 


JSEW  YORK: 
DERBY  <fe  JACKSON,  119  NASSAU  STREET. 
1861 


cjrrxBBD  according  to  Act  of  Conerew.  in  the  rur  18** 

DERBY    &  USON, 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  U.  S.  for  the  Southern  District  of  New  Ynk. 


[.  Tinson,  Stereoryper.  Gbobge  Russell  &  Co.,  Print,  rg. 


PREFACE. 


We  are  about  to  write  what  nobody  reads — a  Preface.  Did  you 
ever,  kind  reader,  see  a  young  mamma  in  all  the  flutter  and  anxiety 
of  adorning  her- "latest  production"  for  its  first  appearance  upon 
some  public  promenade?  for  if  you  have,  you  may  the  more  fully 
appreciate  our  trepidation  in  sending  this  youngster,  all  unattended, 
into  the  world,  to  court  the  smiles  of  those  crabbed  old  fellows,  the 
critics,  and  win,  if  we  be  lucky,  its  "  little  meed  of  fame,"  from  that 
no  less  difficult  class  to  please — "  our  readers."  But  to  carry  out  the 
simile,  let  us  suppose  the  "infant  phenomenon"  aforesaid — not  ours 
but  the  anxious  mamma's — to  be  ugly  by  nature— in  short,  as  peevish, 
squalling,  ill-behaved,  and  unbearable  a  brat  as  ever  pulled  "  grand- 
pa's "  hair  or  screamed  lustily  after  midnight — to  how  great  an 
extent  then  are  our  young  matrons  perplexities  increased  as  she  "  fusses 
and  fixes,"  scolds  "nurse"  and  soothes  "baby;"  and  where,  let  us  ask, 
will  you  find  a  more  ill-tempered  or  naturally  repulsive  original  pro- 
duction than  this  very  unpromising  offspring  of  Pro-Slavery  and 
Free  Soil,  which  we  are  about  to  exhibit  under  the  somewhat  hack- 
neyed title  of  "The  War  in  Kansas."  Yet  though  the  words  fall 
wearily,  like  a  thrice-told  tale,  upon  your  ear,  we  flatter  ourself 
that  there  are  some  new  truths  to  be  found  upon  these  pages,  for 
there  is  an  inner  life  in  all  great  events — and  who  shall  doubt  the 


PREFACE. 


celebrity  of  the  Wakarusa  "War  ? — an  under-current  of  adventure  and 
character,  and  it  is  in  this  tide  that  we  have  preferred  to  go-a-whal- 
ing  for  such  incidents  as  appeared  likely  to  be  most  interesting  to 
the  reader. 

Nor  can  we  charge  ourself  with  neglecting  those  more  important 
events — with  the  causes  which  lead  thereto — that  have  been  land- 
marks in  the  progress  of  this  much-talked-of  campaign.  Oh,  no ;  we 
have  done  our  duty  by  the  "  Gradgrinds "  in  writing  up  the  facts 
as  we  present  them  to  you,  in  the  shape  of  His  Excellency 
Governor  Shannon's  statement  on  the  one  side,  and  that  of  the 
Free  Soil  leader,  Major-General  Robinson,  upon  the  other,  with  all 
such  documents  as  may  seem  necessary  to  a  full  understanding  of  the 
same.  So  having  been  thus  faithful  to  the  substantials  of  the  war, 
by  putting  in  such  heavy  blocks  as  these,  we  have  ventured  to  relieve 
the  sternness  of  the  whole  by  the  lighter,  yet  no  less  truthful,  adorn- 
ments of  "  Squire  Portly  and  his  dame,"  "  our  friend  Major  Ram- 
rod," "the  Hard  Shell  Baptist  Preacher,"  "Deacon  Graves,"  and 
"Old  Man  Rhymer,"  for  whose  peculiar  eccentricities  we  would 
respectfully  refer  you  to  the  chapters  of  this  book.  ' 

And  as  a  finale  to  our  Preface,  we  assure  the  reader  that  we 
are  upon  neither  side  of  this  unhappy  quarrel,  between  those  who, 
united  as  they  are  by  one  common  bond  of  national  brotherhood, 
ought  to  be  the  best  of  friends.  On  the  contrary,  we  have  gazed 
upon  the  Kansas  difficulties  as  the  old  lady  did  when  she  put  on  her 
spectacles  to  see  her  husband  fight  the  bear — on  which  Occasion  (to 
quote  from  that  venerable  woman's  narrative  of  the  combat  just 
alluded  to),  "  she  allowed  sometimes  that  she'd  drainer  see  thar  old 
man  whip,  and  then  agin  she  felt  fur  thar  bar ;  but  bimeby,  when 
they  wor  a  goin'  it  strong,  she  didn't  bother  much  about  it,  till 
toward  thar  last,  an  then  it  jest  seemed  as  ef  she  didn't  kear  a  dern 
which  licked  so  long  as  she  seed  thar  fight" 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

OFF   TO    THE  WAR. 

FAG* 

The  Second  "Edishun" — A  Sudden  Resolution — Ways  and  Means — An  Interview  with 
the  Herald — Its  Result — Hatchet  Face — Up  the  River — Railroad  Moralizing — The 
Canada  Side — A  Drunken  Orator — Yankee  versus  Darkey — The  Red-Nosed  Man,.  .  IS 

CHAPTER  II. 
INCIDENTS   BY   THE  WAY. 

Balance  all — The  Night  Train — Squa.-htown— Alton  and  St.  Louis — Smashup  and  Co — 
Doing  a  Traveller— At  the  Planters'— The  Mud  Cart— The  Ten— The  Dutch  Stage- 
Agent— A  Row  for  Two— The  City-Marshal— We  Conquer,        .  .      .  .20 

CHAPTER  III. 

A  HARD  ONE  FOR  THE  AUTHOR. 

Winter  Scenery — Ribs  and  Sides — A  dog-gaun  Bad  Place — Smashed  up — The  Way- 
side Station — An  Upset — Save  the  Ladies — Drunken  Drivers,  S9 


CHAPTER  IV. 

OLD  MAN  RHYMER  AND  A  BOONSVILLE  HOTEL. 

Old  Man  Rhymer's— The  '  shicken  *  Fight— Chicken  versus  Hog— The  Lumber  Wagon 
— Six  Old  Blind  Mares — Boonsville — A  Roarer  of  a  Fire — Our  Sanctum — Another 
Detainer — Nigger  Jim,  '  47 

CHAPTER  V. 

from  "our  correspondent"  en  route. 
A  very  old  Soldier — Our  Possible  Obituary — Pumping  a  Down-Easter — A  Cute  Yankee 
Trick — A  Friend  and  Brother — Mr.  Magee's  Nigger — Fighting  Caesar,      .      .  .61 

CHAPTER  VI. 

OUR  VIRGINIAN  FRIEND  ON  SLAVERY. 

A  Fresh  Start — A  Southerner  on  Slavery— Slave  Marriages— Uncle  Tom — All  about  the 
Niggers— Miss  Dinah — A  Log-Cabin  Interior — Rough  Sketches — Something  from 
New  Hampshire — A  border  Ruffian — Miss  Precise — Bedlam— The  peace-maker,       .  64 


viii 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  Vn. 

LEXINGTON. 

PASS 

Beating  the  Mail— Gas— Strickler's  Aide-de-camp— Parson  Clarke— The  Free-State 
General— Items— Clarke,  alias  P— A  Terrible  Alternative— Off  the  Track— Free 
soilP,   77 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

TREATS  OF  THINGS  RELIGIOUS  AND  SECULAR. 

Friend  Broad-brim— Henry  Clay  Insulted— The  Arrest— An  Independent  Volunteer- 
Sunday  in  Lexington — The  Groaners— Parson  Jones  and  Deacon  Graves— A  Hard- 
shell Discourse — Keards  and  such  like,  87 

CHAPTER  IX. 

OUR  AUTHOR  ENTERS  KANSAS. 

The  Funny  Side—"  Droppin' "  a  Stage-driver— The  Gruff  Voice— A  Solemn  Fact— Hog 
crazy— Westport — A  Generous  Offer— We  enter  Kansas— Whipped  either  Way,      .  96 

CHAPTER  X. 

THE  SHAWNEE  MANUAL  LABOR  SCHOOL. 

Massa  Johnson — A  Dubersome  Donkey — The  Mission  Farm — The  Shawnee  Reserve — 
Red-skins  at  School— Copper-colored  Youngsters— The  Little  Arapahoe— Amalga- 
mation— Shawnee  Belles,   106 

CHAPTER  XI. 

RED-SKINS  AND   INDIAN  YARNS. 

->runk-in-a-Blanket — Indian  Eccentricities — Major  Ramrod's  Adventure — Beauty 
unadorned — Outraged  Diffidence — Hard  to  Swallow — Ducking  a  Baby — Crying 
Babies,  114 

CHAPTER  XII. 

NEWS-HUNTING  IN  WESTPORT. 

Kit  Carson — Aubrey — Secret  Military  Organization — The  Sheriff's  Invitation — The 
Lion  of  the  Evening,  •  122 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

WE  JOURNEY  TO  LECOMPTON. 

Good-bye  to"  Westport— The  Solitary  Grave— Snow-clad  Prairies— Bean's  Hotel — 
Franklin— Interesting  to  Emigrants— Facts  and  Figures— The  Promised  Land — 
Lecompton — New  Friends,  127 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

HOUSE  ON  THE  PRAIRIE. 

Threatenings— A  Late  Visitor— Shooting  at  a  Doctor — The  Guarded  House— A  Deplor- 
able Transaction— The  Barber  Homicide— Major  Clarke's  Statement,      .      .      .  187 


CONTENTS.  is 
CHAPTER  XV. 

THE  EXECUTIVE  OFFICE  AT  SHAWNEE  MISSION. 

PAGE 

The  Gubernatorial  Mansion — Most  Particularly  Democratic— The  Secretary  of  State — 
Judge  Lynch's  Court-house — The  Origin  of  the  Bowie-knife,  144 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

THE  PRO-SLAVERY  SIDE  OF  THE  KANSAS  WAR. 

Growing  Serious— Hickory  Point  Difficulties— Buckley's  Affidavit — Hargis's  Affidavit 


— Hargis's  Affidavit  Continued — Irritating  Causes — Sheriff  Jones'  Affidavit — Sheriff 
Jones'  Affidavit  Continued — John  P.  Wood's  Statement — The  Absentee,  .       .      .  149 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

GOVERNOR  SHANNON'S  HISTORY  OF  THE  WAKARUSA  WAR. 

A  Modest  Request — Three  Thousand  against  Forty — An  Unorganized  Militia — The 
Gathering  of  the  Clans — Shannon's  Call  to  Arms — Shannon's  Army  Outnumbered,  .  159 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

CONTAINS  A  DIGRESSION  BY  THE  GOVERNOR. 

Why  Missouri  Crossed  the  Border— Governor  Shannon's  Policy— A  very  Irish  Gentle- 
man—The Fire-eaters— A  bad  Position  at  the  Best— The  Ship  of  State — Warlike 
Preparations — Shannon  Telegraphs  the  President — Colonel  Sumner  Makes  a  Sug- 
gestion— Shannon  Adopts  the  Suggestion — Instructions  to  Sheriff  Jones — Richard- 
son and  Jones— The  President  Promises  Aid— A  Crisis  is  at  Hand— The  Crisis  gets 
Nearer,   .      .      .      .      .      .      „  .165 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

THE  GOVERNOR  CONTINUES  HIS  NARRATIVE. 

Shannon  is  off  to  the  War — Shannon  in  the  Camp  —  Shannon  has  Two  Objects — 
Shannon's  Army  Will  Not  be  Restrained — Shannon  Outwits  his  Men — The  Black 
Flag — Shannon  Enters  Lawrence — Moments  are  Hours — The  Besieged  Won't  Sur- 
render— Shannon  as  a  Peace-maker — Orders  from  Head-quarters,    ....  180 

CHAPTER  XX. 

GOVERNOR'S  NARRATIVI  CONTINUED — THE  TREATY. 

Things  Look  Badly — Everybody  Satisfied  and  Nobody  Pleased — Shannon  Concludes  a 
Treaty — Shannon  Disbands  his  Army — Exeunt  Omnes— Shannon  Assisted  by  the 
Elements — Shannon  Signs  a  Certain  Paper— We  ask  an  Explanation— Shannon 
Explains— Why  we  Asked— Two  Good  Reasons— Our  Correspondent's  Christmas,   .  191 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

CHRISTMAS  IN  KANSAS. 

Seasonable — A  Mysterious  Epistle— Happy  Children— The  Ghost  of  Christmas  Past — 
A  Political  Dialogue — A  Negro  Standard  Bearer— A  Body-guard  of  Slaves— Kansas 
Emigration  from  the  South— Colonel  Buford's  scheme — Judge  Cato  on  the  Territory 
— Religious  and  Unexceptionable — E.  B.  Bell  and  Ho  for  Kansas !— A  Slight  Mistake 
—Shooting  the  Wrong  Man   .  ........  .203 


X 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

LIFE  AT  THE  MISSION. 

PAGE 

An  Odd  Fish— The  Preliminary  horn— Making  an  Effort  —  The  Eastern  Mail— A 
Kansas  Night-mare — Our  Funny  Little  Friend,  217 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

COLEMAN'S  NARRATIVE. 

A  Visit  from  Coleman — Coleman  Settles  at  Hickory  Point — Coleman  Quarrels  with 
Branson— White's  Cabin  Burnt— Branson  and  Dow  Threaten  Coleman— Coleman 
Driven  from  his  Claim — Coleman  Arms  Himself— Coleman  Kills  Dow — Coleman 

Gives  Himself  Up — Coleman  Declines  Being  a  Justice,  223 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

FOR  LAWRENCE  DIRECT. 

Our  Over-dressed  Companion — The  old  Priest — The  Silent  Blessing — Bad  News  for  the 
Major — An  Attempt  to  fire  Clarke's  Dwelling— Lynch  Law  Threatened — For  Dream- 
land Direct,  233 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

NEW  TEAR'S  EVE  BY  A  LOG-CABIN  HEARTH. 

New  Year's  Eve  in  the  Wilderness — A  Sweet  Sunshiny  Face — Pen-and-ink  Portraits — 
The  Resigned  Lieutenant — Political  Advice  Gratis — The  Jolly  Man's  Story — An  Anec- 
dote of  Aaron  Burr — A  Western  Amazon — Killing  at  Both  Ends — Ole  Man  Parson's 

fightr-Getting  Even  by  a  Double  Entry,  240 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

OUR  NEW  TEAR'S  CALL. 

New  Year's  Day — Falling  Weather — Down  and  Laughed  at — A  Grocery  Group — We 
Show  our  Breeding — A  Free-State  Settler's  Home — A  New-England  Wife  and  Baby 
— Less  Talk  and  More  Work — The  Cincinnati  House — Our  Landladies — Miss  Char- 
ity— Long  Sweetening,  251 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

THE  BALL. 

A  Political  Free  and  Easy — The  Free-State  Executives — Frontier  Full  Dress — A  Kan- 
sas Ball  Room— Playing  on  the  Wash-board,  268 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

THE  HEROINES  OF  THE  WAR. 

The  Fat  One  enters — A  Chat  with  the  Ladies — The  Free-State  Heroine — Bustling  Times 
— A  Killing  Petticoat-Loaded  to  Go  Off— Old  Sally  and  Her  Driver— Swelled  Out 

Awful,  26S 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 

THE  FREE-STATE  SIDE  OF  THE  QUESTION. 

We  Define  our  Position— Truth  and  Brevity— The  Main  Points— Seven  in  a  Bed— A 
Rough  and  Tumble  Set— Bercaw's  Free-State  Statement— The  Hickory  Point  Resolu- 


CONTENTS. 


Xi 


tions — A  Good  and  Fair  Christian— A  Touch  of  the  Brogue — Nullifiers,  Scamps,  and 
Rottens — Bowie-knives,  Pistols,  and  Whisky — Missouri  at  the  Kansas  Polls — The 
Romuluses  of  Kansas — The  so-called  Bogus  Legislature— So  Mote  it  be— The  Two  Who 
Didn't  Fight— Pawnee,  276 

CHAPTER  XXX. 

THE  FREE-STATE  COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. 

From  the  Very  Best  Authority — A  Free-State  History  of  the  War— General  Robinson 
Counsels  Prudence — The  Free-State  Kansas  Volunteers — The  Free-Soilers  Seek  Aid 
— The  Governor  Smiles  upon  Lawrence — Missouri  is  Satisfied  without  Fighting — 
Shannon  Meets  the  Ladies — General  Robinson  Consents — Robinson  is  Lionized,     .  29S 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

THE  HEROES  OF  THE  WAR. 

A  Brilliant  Incident  of  the  War — Major  Blank  of  the  Free-State  Volunteers — Yankee 
Wit  versus  Missouri  Sagacity — The  Stranger  Steps  in  to  Drink — Yankee  Wit  in  a 
Fix — The  Border  Ruffians  Help  Yankee  Wit — Yankee  Wit  is  Much  Obliged — A 
*    Darned  Mean  Yankee  Trick — Mr.  Miller's  Free-State  Statement — What  Sharpe's 
Rifles  Cost  in  Lawrence,       .       .       .       .       .      .  308 

CHAPTER  XXXII. 
HIS  HONOR  JUDGE  PORTLY. 

A  Prairie  Home — An  Impromptu  Journey — Squire  Portly  and  his  Dame — That  Peart 
Gal  Wetumpky — The  Missourians  Prescribe  Hanging — Squire  Portly  gets  the 
Heaves— The  Shooting  of  Thomas  W.  Barber — Robert  F.  Barber's  Statement — Bar- 
ber's Last  Words— The  flight,   .      .      .  .313 

CHAPTER  XXXin. 

A  VISIT  TO  THE  WIDOW  BARBER. 

A  Sudden  and  Tranquil  Departure — By  Whom  Was  He  Killed? — Doctor  Squilh 
enjines  Takin'  Kear — Peirson's  Account  of  the  Fight — He  is  Dead — The  Desolated 
Home— A  Sincere  Mourner— The  Only  Victim  of  the  War — A  Heart-rending  Scene,  823 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

A  SNOWY  NIGHT  IN  A  SETTLER'S  CABIN. 

A  Rather  Dangerous  Excursion — Captain  Jack  Quarter — Blowing  Great  Guns — Boots 
and  all — A  Blessed  Apparition — Our  Blue  Umbrella  Tent — Gracias  a  Dios, 

CHAPTER  XXXV. 

FREE-STATE  FACTS. 

General  James  H.  Lane — The  Brigadier's  Antecedents — Lucky  Lane — Kansas  Scrip — 
The  Free-State  Propagandists — A  Kansas  Volunteer's  Commission — A  Kansai 
Volunteer's  Discharge — 0,  Deary  Me  ! — The  Rival  Tickets — Loaves  and  Fishes — So 
Endeth  the  Circular  


Xll  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

THK  SEBASTOPOL  OF  THE  WEST. 

PAS* 

Lawrence  and  its  Defences— What  is  and  is  to  be— The  Eldridge  House— Shoot  but 
take  Good  Aim— An  Arkansas  Yarn— Pine  Knot  Jake— A  Very  Pressing  Invitation 
—The  Bully  Seems  to  Triumph— The  Tables  Turned— Mr.  Chowler  Favors  the  Com- 
pany—The Borderer  Backs  Down— The  Gambling  Man— The  Screamer  No.  3,        .  360 

CHAPTER  XXXVn. 

LAWRENCE  IN  A  MILITARY  POINT  OF  VIEW. 

Can  Lawrence  be  Taken — The  Bluff  near  Lawrence — Military  Engineering— Sheriff 
Jones  a  Good  Samaritan— Later  from  the  Seat  of  War— What  may  be — The  Free- 
State  Leaders  to  the  President — By  Order  of  the  President — Marcy  to  Shannon — 
Instructions  to  Colonels  Sumner  and  Cooke — Jefferson  Davis  to  Governor  Shannon — 
From  the  Governor  of  Indiana— Sensible  and  to  the  Point — Highly  Creditable  to  its 
Author — A  Trifling  Mistake  Somewhere — The  First  Legislature  of  Kansas — Official 
List  of  the  Members— Citizenship  of  the  Bogus  Legislature,  363 

CHAPTER  XXXVIIL 

FREE-STATE  ODDS  AND  ENDS. 

Lawrence  by  Comparison — A  Pro-Slavery  Squatter's  Claim — The  Free-Soilers'  Loca- 
tion— Free-State  Amusements — We  Determine  to  Leave  Kansas — A  Free-Soil  Meet- 
ing—The Circumstance — Adding  Insult  to  Injury — A  Pro-Slavery  Notice  to  Quit — 
What's  in  the  Wind? — Newspapers  in  Kansas — Kickapoo  Volunteers,     .      .  .881 

CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

LAST  LINES. 

A  Barnum,  but  no  Humbug — What  Kansas  Needs — Barking  but  not  Biting  Dogs — A 
Lunatic  Asylum  for  Demagogues— The  Border  Ruffian's  Better  Half— Rough  but  no 
Ruffian — The  Momentous  Question,  398 


CHAPTER  I.  ' 


OFF    TO    THE  WAR. 

Tuesday,  December  4th,  1855. — Ding — dong — ding,  three 
o'clock  by  old  Trinity — it  rang  out  just  as  we  turned  into  the 
Broadway  artery  of  that  human  tide  which  is  ever  flowing 
through  our  great  metropolis — three  by  the  wintry  sun — three 
by  the  Banks — three  by  old  Trinity — and  as  we  listened  to  the 
tones  of  that  iron  tongue,  which  marks  the  burial  of  the  dead 
hours — far  above  the  roar  of  Wall-street  Bulls  and  Bears,  not 
To  mention  the  clatter  of  conflicting  omnibuses — we  fell  into  a 
meditative  mood,  and  paced  the  sloppy  pavements  leisurely. 

Of  what  we  were  thinking  upon  that  memorable  afternoon, 
we  are  not  at  this  particular  moment  prepared  to  state  :  but 
certain  it  is  that  our  mental  train  met  with  an  obstacle,  and  ran 
off  the  track  instanter,  to  the  great  detriment,  not  to  say 
destruction,  of  some  four-score  promising  "  castles  in  the  air," 
exploded  by  the  collision. 

And  the  obstacle  ?  most  gentle  reader — was  a  Newsboy — 
who  had  startled  our  ears  with  the  curt  announcement  of 


14 


THE  SECOND  "  EDISHUN." 


"  Here 's  the  New  York  'Erald — second  edishun — got  the 
Great  War  in  Kansas." 

The  "  Great  War  in  Kansas  ?"  what  could  it  mean  ?  We 
had  heard  of  the  "  Dorr  War,"  the  "  Anti-Rent  War,"  the 
"Erie  Pea-nut  War,"  and  even i of  that  stirring  strife  of  which 
the  poet  has  so  beautifully  sung, 

"  SEBASTOPOL  AIN'T  TAKEN  YET, 
Pop  goes  the  Weasel." 

But  the  Kansas  War — that  was  something  new  !  So  we 
slackened  our  pace,  pondered  for  a  moment,  got  our  mental 
locomotive  on  the  track  again,  was  "  struck  with  an  idea,"  but 
without  receiving  any  material  injury,  and  then  halted  outright, 
and  whistled  up  the  Newsboy,  who  straightway  answered  to  the 
call,  in  the  shape  of  a  diminutive  young  biped,  with  a  frosty 
nose,  a  very  shrill  voice,  and  a  pair  of  patent  ventilating  panta- 
loons, which  exhibited  a  suspicion  of  dingy-colored  linen  in  their 
rear.  Add  to  these,  a  huge  bundle  of  papers  under  the  left 
arm,  and  a  brace  of  "specimen  numbers"  in  the  extended  right 
hand,  and  you  have  a  sketch  "  from  the  life,"  done  at  sight,  of 
that  very  nondescript  animal — a  New  York  Newsboy. 

"  Here 's  the  'Erald,  sir — second  edishun,"  squeaked  the  shrill 
voice. 

We  satisfied  ourself  that  there  was  something  from  Kansas 
(for  we  want  confidence  in  the  whole  race  of  Newsboys — the 
patent-improved  sort  not  excepted),  and  then,  in  the  agitation 
of  the  moment,  disbursed  half  a  dime,  at  the  same  time  grasping 
a  paper,  without  asking  for  the  change.  When  we  recovered 
ourself,  the  vender  of  recent  intelligence  had  vanished  like  a  the- 
atrical ghost  ;  the  dirty  linen  aforesaid,  being  the  last  object 
visible  as  he  shot  round  a  neighboring  corner. 

And  now  for  the  hews,  was  our  mental  ejaculation  ;  for  if 
there  be  no  compensation  in  the  "  second  edishun,"  we  are  minus 


A  SUDDEN  RESOLUTION. 


15 


five  cents,  federal  currency,  and.  grossly  deceived  to  boot.  So 
we  turned  down  the  paper,  found  the  "  very  latest  by  telegraph," 
pressed  our  beaver  more  firmly  upon  our  brow,  and  then  re- 
treated from  the  vortex  of  a  jostling  crowd  into  the  shelter  of  a 
friendly  doorway,  to  read,  in  greater  quietness,  the  following 
paragraph  : — 

"BY  TELEGRAPH. 
"  Call  from  the  Governor  for  United  States  Troops. 

"St.  Louis,  Bee.  3,  1855. 
"  Accounts  from  Kansas  state  that  Governor  Shannon  has  telegraphed 
to  the  President,  concerning  the  present  condition  of  affairs  in  that  Terri- 
tory. He  says  that  one  thousand  men  have  arrived  in  Lawrence,  and  res- 
cued a  prisoner  from  the  sheriff  of  Douglas  County,  and  burned  some 
houses  and  other  property.  He  asks  the  President  to  order  out  the  troops 
at  Fort  Leavenworth,  to  aid  in  the  execution  of  the  laws. 

"Dispatches  from  Weston  arrived  here  to-day  by  express,  bringing 
startling  news  from  Atchinson.  Some  Free  State  officers  had  taken  pos- 
session of  important  papers,  and  an  attack  upon  Atchinson  was  anticipated. 
A  messenger  had  been  sent  to  Weston  for  fifty  armed  men." 

We  read  no  more,  but  turned  upon  our  heel  and  rammed  the 
"  second  edishun  w  into  our  great-coat  pocket,  with  an  emphasis 
which  bespoke  a  determination  on  our  part  to  do  "something 
energetic,  and  that  soon."  And  it  was  even  so,  for  in  that 
instant  of  time  we  had  made  up  our  minds  to  go  to  Kansas, 
partly  because  we  wished  to  see  the  row,  not  as  through  a  glass, 
darkly  (meaning  the  medium  of  printers'  ink),  but  with  our  own 
unspectacled  eyes — yea,  even  as  the  Big  Spring  Free  State  Dele- 
gate Convention  expresses  it — "  to  a  bloody  issue,"  but  most  of 
all  because  we  wanted  a  change — the  comforts  of  civilization 
had  begun  to  weary  us — we  longed  for  a  rougher  life — for 
Prairie  air  and  Border  freedom  ;  in  a  word,  to  sum  our  case  up 
briefly,  we  didn't  know  when  we  were  well  off,  and  pined  for  an 
alteration  for  the  worse.  M  Westward  ho  !"  cried  our  first 
impulse,  and  we  yielded — of  course  we  did — for  we  always 


16 


WAYS  AND  MEANS. 


make  it  a  point,  unless  we  can't  "help  ourself,  to  "  treat  our  incli- 
nations." Yes,  we  confess  it,  for,  like  Tony  Lumpkin,  of  "  the 
Three  Jolly  Pigeons  "  notoriety,  although  we  might  have  disap- 
pointed the  dear  public,  and  spared  the  book-stalls  the  infliction 
of  a  new  volume  on  Kansas — nay,  have  even  most  respectfully 
declined  to  play  historian  to  the  far-famed  Wakarusa  war — we 
"  couldn't  bear  to  disappoint  ourself." 

But  how  to  go  ?  ah  1  there  was  the  rub.  It  costs  money  to 
travel,  and  we,  alas  !  so  far  as  temporal  goods  are  concerned, 
suffer  but  little  from  taxation.  It  requires  time,  too  (unless, 
indeed,  as  the  Irishman  expressed  it,  a  one  could  verify  the  revolu- 
tion of  the  earth  by  sitting  down  upon  the  ground,  and  letting  the 
"  counthries "  come  round  to  him  in  succession),  and  time,  in 
this  waking  world,  is  money.  So  it  was  with  a  purpose  that  we 
turned  our  hasty  steps  towards  the  office  of  the  New  York 
Herald,  for  we  had  a  pecuniary  problem  to  cipher  out,  and  the 
prime  minister  of  the  "  Satanic  Press"  was  just  the  man  to  lay 
down  its  premises.  What  wonder  then  that  fifteen  minutes'  time 
found  us  in  the  editorial  sanctum  sanctorum  of  Bennett's  paper — 

where  with  Mr.  H  ,  its  senior  editor  (in  big  whiskers  and  an 

arm-chair),  for  a  vis-a-vis,  we  proceeded  to  unfold  our  wishes  and 
set  forth  our  very  modest  expectations. 

We  thought  there  would  be  "wars  and  rumors  of  wars  "  in 
Kansn-  The  Herald  got  all  the  news — the  Herald  must  there- 
for oe  posted  upon  Kansas — ergo,  the  Herald  would  require  a 
correspondent — a  special  one,  in  those  far  regions.  And  a  "  War 
Correspondent"  to  boot.  And  who  (we  diffidently  inquired), 
was  better  fitted  for  this  arduous  position  than  ourself  ?  Had 
we  not  scribbled  for  the  Herald,  written  articles  for  Harper, 
and  moreover  been  "  a  man-of-war,"  while  in  the  service  of  that 
stingy  old  curmudgeon — Uncle  Sam.  In  view  of  all  these  cir- 
cumstances, we  made  bold  to  talk  up  our  stock,  clinching  the 
whole  with  the  insinuation,  that  the  New  York  Herald  might 


AN  INTERVIEW  WITH  THE  HERALD. 


IT 


do  itself  an  injustice,  by  not  ordering  us  to  Kansas  instanter.  In 
fine,  we  retired  at  the  expiration  of  a  fifteen  minutes'  interview, 

with  the  blessed  assurance  that  Mr.  H  would  take  the  matter 

into  consideration,  and  give  us  a  final  answer  upon  the  morrow — 
at  noon. 

We  will  spare  you  a  recital  of  the  astonishment  with  which 
our  friends  received  the  intelligence  that  we  might  start  next  day 
for  Kansas— to  be  gone  for  an  indefinite  length  of  time — suffice 
it  to  say  that  we  "  attended  to  our  sleeping  "  that  night,  for  it 
seemed  just  possible  that  it  might  be  our  last  chance  in  bed 
before  reaching  a  frontier  log-cabin. 

High  noon  of  December  the  5th  found  us  again  closeted  with 

Mr.  H  of  the  Herald.    He  "  didn't  think  the  war  would 

amount  to  much — he  regarded  it  as  a  move  to  make  political 
capital  for  Whitfield  or  Reeder  at  Washington.  In  short  he 
believed  the  whole  affair  to  be  a  1  Barnum ' — alias  humbug,  of  the 
most  unmitigated  kind.    Here  was  a  pretty  state  of  things — if 

Mr.  H  didn't  believe  in  the  war,  it  would  be  no  go  with  us 

— so  we  set  to  work,  with  a  will,  to  correct  these  very  erroneous 
impressions.  Well,  we  argued  the  matter  pro  and  con,  and  Mr. 
H  finally  asked  us  to  reduce  the  thing  to  figures,  by  saying, 

"  How  much  ?" 

"  We  mentioned  a  sum — it  was  satisfactory." 

"  When  will  you  start  ?" 

41  By  the  first  conveyance." 

"  When  can  you  get  there  ?" 

"  As  soon  or  sooner  than  the  mail." 

"  Yery  well  ;  this  letter  will  accredit  you  as  our  correspondent. 
Here  Mr.  H  sat  down  and  wrote  us  the  following  : 

"Herald  Office,  New  York,  Dec.  5,  1855. 

"My  Dear  Sir: 

If  circumstances  permit,  I  would  like  to  have  you  leave  this 
afternoon  for  Kansas  Territory,  to  act  as  the  correspondent  of  the  New 


18 


ITS  RESULT. 


York  Herald.  In  addition  to  the  important  political  events  that  may  take 
place,  and  of  which  you  will  furnish  us  with  the  particulars,  I  would  sug- 
gest that  you  send  us  full  information  of  the  agricultural  and  industrial 
progress  of  the  new  territory  and  people.  I  shall  hope  to  hear  from  you 
in  a  week  or  ten  days. 

Very  truly  yours, 

F   H-  

for  James  G.  Bennett. 

G.  Douglas  Brewerton,  Esq.'1'' 

In  addition  to  this  "letter  of  instructions,"  we  were  kindly 
provided  by  a  very  popular  Ex-Senator,  with  a  brace  of 
introductory  epistles  to  the  "  distinguished  consideration  *  of 
Governor  Shannon  and  Senator  Atchinson.  By  this  time  the. 
advent  of  one  o'clock  reminded  us  that  Time  and  steamboats 
wait  for  no  man,  and  that  if  we  meant  to  leave  that  evening  we 
had  better  be  going.  So  we  made  our  adieu  to  the  ministering 
angels  (?)  of  the  Herald,  with  many  a  hearty  prayer  (not  to 
mention  some  expressions  of  incredulity),  as  touching  our  safe 
return  ;  and  then  went  forth  to  make  the  necessary  prepara- 
tions for  a  trip  to  the  seat  of  war  in  Kansas. 

And  now  as  we  can't  plead  the  old-fashioned  apology 
"  excuse  haste  and  a  bad  pen  " — we  will  simply  beg  your  mercy, 
if  want  of  space  should  jolt  our  style  into  the  Doe-sticks  or 
railroad  order.  En  avant !  then,  let  us  progress — even  though 
it  be  at  high-pressure  speed — so  follow  us,  good  people,  if 
you  can. 

We  plunged  into  Broadway — met  a  shop  with  flaring  glass 
windows — be-lettered  from  top  to  toe  in  many  hued-capitals, 
setting  forth  the  names  of  cities  and  places  to  an  extent  which 
might  have  induced  the  bewildered  spectator  to  hazard  a  sup- 
position that  the  "man  inside"  must  have  begun  his  travels  at 
an  early  age,  and  kept  on  until  he  had  mastered  the  geography,, 
got  over  the  maps,  and  bothered  the  terrestrial  globes.  We 
"  limbered  up  M  accordingly,  and  straightway  concluded  that  if 


HATCHET  FACE. 


the  proprietor  of  this  establishment  didn't  sell  tickets  to  St. 
Louis,  which  (as  everybody  ought  to  know)  is  the  first  long  step 
to  Kansas,  nobody  else  did  ;  so  we  dived  in — violated  the  sanc- 
tity of  the  railed  pen-marked  "  no  admittance  behind  the  coun- 
ter"— met  a  hatchet-faced  man^with  keen  eyes,  a  faint  mous- 
tache and  consumptive-looking  whiskers  to  match — told  hatchet- 
fated  man  that  we  wanted  to  go  to  St.  Louis,  and  required 
information — found  hatchet-faced  man  polite,  with  a  very  glib 
tongue,  or.  as  Samuel  Weller,  senior,  of  the  "  Belle  Sauvage," 
would  have  expressed  it — with  "  the  gift  of  the  gab  werry  gal- 
loping." Indeed,  we  had  barely  intimated  that  we  wanted  to  go 
West,  when  he  opened  his  mouth,  and  out  came  such  a  Niagara 
of  words,  that  we  were  fairly  swept  away  by  the  torrent,  and 
listened  patiently  per  force;  for,  in  less  time  than  it  takes  to 
write  it,  Hatchet  Face  had  put  us  in  possession  of  all  the  "  favo- 
rable facts"  connected  with  five  septrate  lines,  or  thereabouts, 
for  which  he  was  the  sole  agent  ;  and,  strange  to  relate, 
(if  Hatchet  Face  spoke  the  truth ;  and  being  a  railroad  agent, 
he  could  by  no  means  have  done  otherwise),  these  five  different 
and  differing  lines  had  each  and  all  one  most  uncommon  simi- 
larity, inasmuch  as  there  was  no  one  of  them  that  didn't  save 
the  traveller  who  had  the  good  fortune  to  pursue  that  particu- 
lar route,  a  "mint  of  money," — "  without  possibility  of  colli- 
sion," or  "  missing  of  connections,"  and  put  him  through  in 
"  five  hours  less  time  than  by  any  other  track,"  with  fewer  changes 
of  cars,  and  (as  a  Scottish  landlord  says  when  the  bill  of  fare 
is  exhausted),  just  anything  else  you  please.  In  fine,  we  never 
knew  before,  or  since,  how  delightfully  easy  it  had  become  to 
travel  westward  ;  we  even  found  ourself  embarrassed  by  the 
multiplicity  of  advantages,  until  in  our  perplexity  we  had  almost 
determined  upon  putting  all  the  lines — no — their  "  prospectuses" 
we  mean — into  our  hat,  and  taking  the  first  drawn  out  at  a  ven- 


20  UP  THE  RIVER. 

ture.  So,  trusting  to  luck,  we  said  "  The  Suspension  Bridge 
and  Canada,  via  Detroit,  and  the  Illinois  Central" — paid  our 
money,  receiving,  as  a  "  certificate  of  deposit,"  a  little  package 
of  tickets  curiously  stamped,  countersigned  and  hung  together, 
and  withal  so  wondrously  enveloped  that  the  whole  affair 
resembled  a  diminutive  billet-doux.  Being  thus  accredited  to 
the  road,  we  shot  out  of  the  office,  bade  Hatchet  Face  a  hasty 
adieu,  and  wended  our  way  to  Bolen's,  where  we  purchased  pow- 
der, caps,  and  balls  ;  then  stationery — quite  a  wholesale  lot — 
was  to  be  procured  ;  and  finally  we  discussed  the  relative  merits 
of  divers  and  sundry  carpet  bags  with  a  shrewd  old  Yankee, 
who  took  our  measure  at  a  glance,  and  suited  us  with  an  article 
which  we  will  make  bold  to  say  has  held  more  manuscript  than 
any  other  single  specimen  of  all  its  leathern  kith  and  kin. 

Ding,  dong,  ding — three  o'clock  again — we  "  broke  like  a 
quarter-horse "  for  our  residence  in  Brooklyn,  where  we  spent 
the  hours  until  five  P.  M.  in  packing  up,  bidding  good-bye, 
and  writing  "last  lines"  generally.  Six  P.  M.  found  us  on 
board  one  of  those  "  floating  palaces"  (when  they  are  clean), 
a  North  River  steamboat,  and  fairly  under  weigh. 

Nine  hours  through  the  dark  water,  cleaving  our  way  beneath 
the  giant  shadows  of  the  dusky  hills  that  walled  in  our  steamer's 
trackless  path,  brought  us  to  that  most  unromantic  of  all  com- 
monplace localities,  the  Albany  dock;  then  came  a  hotel,  sought 
out  amid  the  darkness  of  a  gloomy  winter's  morning  ;  and  then 
a  breakfast,  served  up  with  all  that  overplus  of  hospitality 
which  is  only  to  be  had  at  so  much  per  day — a  meal,  to  be  eaten 
in  haste,  with  your  loins  girded,  which  in  our  case  meant  an 
overcoat  and  a  many-hued  worsted  comforter.  And  then  we 
sallied  forth  to  view  the  railroad  train  for  Buffalo,  and  pick  out 
the  passenger-car  next  to  the  last,  in  which  (as  we  had  been 
caught  in  a  railroad  smash  up  before),  we  selected  a  seat  which 


railroad  moralizing. 


21 


seemed  safer  than  the  rest  ;  that  is  to  say,  it  was  "  convenient" 
to  the  door,  with  a  window  opposite,  which  might  be  kicked  out 
at  short  notice  upon  an  emergency. 

And  permit  us  to  inform  you,  friend  reader,  as  we  go,  that 
there  is — accidents  excepted — a  deal  of  fun  in  railroading  it. 
For,  if  we  remember  aright,  it  was  Mr.  Pope,  or  some  other 
behind-the-age  worthy,  who  declared  that, 

"  The  proper  study  of  mankind  is  man." 

Now  had  Mr.  Pope  known  human  nature  ^better,  he  would  have 
recommended  woman.  But  if  man — or  for  that  matter,  woman 
either — be  the  prescribed  course,  and  mankind  the  pupil,  we  can 
suggest  no  better  school  than  a  first-class  passenger-car  ;  for 
there  is  to  us  something  really  refreshing  in  the  frankness  with 
which  the  genus  homo  throws  off  even  the  affectation  of  unselfish- 
ness when  he  leaves  his  own  peculiar  orbit  to  traverse  the  public 
highway. 

It  is  so  easy,  too,  to  classify  the  bipeds  around  you.  There  is 
the  nervous  man,  who  shivers  at  every  blast  of  the  steam-whistle, 
and  hears  an  M  awful  catastrophe  "  in  the  rush  of  an  approach- 
ing train,  which  never  fails  to  conjure  up  a  vision  of  broken 
legs  and  arms,  and,  it  may  be,  a  coroner's  inquest  in  the  pros- 
pective. To  this  class  we  belong — for,  in  this  respect,  we  are  a 
person  of  terrible  experiences. 

Then  comes  the  obdurate  man — he  of  the  mulish  temperament, 
who  has  "  paid  for  his  rights,  and  means  to  get  'em "-;  who 
would  see  a  woman  "  in  that  extremity  "  first,  and  her  baby 
to  boot,  before  he  would  budge  either  his  precious  body  or  his 
almost  equally  valuable  valise. 

And  then,  there's  the  jolly  man — your  thorough-bred,  gay, 
devil-may-care  sort  of  fellow — funny  by  profession,  and  happy 
by  habit — one  of  those  deuced  clever  chaps,  who  would  crack 
his  joke  at  your  nearest  relative's  funeral,  just  by  way  of  "  keep- 
ing up  your  spirits,"  or  recommend  "  lemon-aid"  to  the  young 


22 


THE   CANADA  SIDE. 


lady  who  sits  beside  him  at  table,  as  a  recompense  hi  full  for 
having  spoiled  her  new  pattern  dress — the  only  one  of  its  kind 
— by  upsetting  his  soup  into  her  lap. 

And  then  there's — but  we  must  stop  moralizing,  or  we  shall 
never  get  to  Kansas.  So  let  us  shift  the  scene  to  the  Niagara 
Suspension  Bridge — Canada  side — where  we  arrived  about  nine 
o'clock  on  the  evening  of  the  6th.  Here  we  were  detained, 
while  waiting  for  the  departure  of  the  Detroit  train,  which  did 
not  go  out  until  some  two  hours  later.  But  on  reviewing  our 
note-book,  we  natter  ourself  that  we  must  have  improved  our 
time  ;  for  our  adventures — or  rather  those  of  our  neighbors — 
while  sojourning  at  Suspension  Bridge,  were  "  considerable  if 
not  more  so."    But  they  shall  speak  for  themselves. 

Upon  leaving  the  cars  we  wended  our  way  into  the  dingy  (at 
least  by  night-light)  depot,  and  finally  penetrated  to  the  yet 
more  comfortless  eating-room,  where  a  dirty-looking  supper  stood 
waiting  for  customers  at  fifty  cents  per  head.  Here  we  sought, 
but  searched  in  vain,  for  an  unappropriated  seat  ;  for  though 
vacant  chairs  were  plentiful,  and  likely  to  continue  so,  they  were 
ranged  for  possible  occupation  about  the  supper  aforesaid. 
But  had  we  entertained  any  doubt  upon  this  head,  it  would  have 
been  dispelled  by  the  information  which  was  tendered  us  "  free 
gratis  "  by  an  officious  waiter  (in  dirty  slippers,  and  a  dilapidated 
apron),  to  the  effect  that  "if  we  didn't  want  to  eat  we  mustn't 
move  the  chairs."  So  we  were  fain  to  wander  forth  from  this 
inhospitable  apartment  into  a  crowded  antechamber,  warmed  by 
an  enormous  stove  (our  particular  abomination),  and  fairly 
reeking  with  filthy  odors — those  of  frying  tobacco-juice  and  half- 
smoked  cigars  predominating. 

As  we  edged  our  way  through  the  throng,  to  get  a  little  fresh 
air,  our  attention  was  attracted  by  a  half-intoxicated  enthusi- 
ast (a  very  "  Hinglish  "  individual,  by-the-way,  in  a  rough  top- 
coat, with  an  upper  finish  of  Canadian  fur-cap),  who  was  amus- 


A  DRUNKEN  ORATOR. 


23 


ing  his  auditors  by  an  ultra  free-soil  harangue,  which  he  deliv- 
ered in  a  somewhat  boisterous,  $ot  to  say  incendiary,  style. 
The  following  specimen  will  serve  as  an  exponent  of  this  ora- 
tion : 

"  Gentlemen,  we  may  be  thankful,  hold  Hingland  may  be 
proud  hof  'er  provinces.  Yes,  we  hopens  hour  harms  to  the 
hoppressed  (hie).  The  miserable  Hafrican  (hie)  flies  from  the 
American  lash  (hie)  and  finds  a  refuge  in  this  hour  (hie)  land 
hof  real  hand  huniversal  liberty  (hie)." 

Here  the  speaker  paused,  and  throwing  himself  into  an  atti- 
tude, gazed  round  him  with  a  drunken  gravity,  which  seemed  to 
say,  "  I  wait  for  a  reply  ;"  and  verily  the  answer  was  at  hand, 
for  it  came  instanter,  butt-end  foremost,  in  the  shape  of  an  ex- 
cited Southerner,  who  had  likewise  been  indulging  too  freely  in 
the  "  extract  of  the  corn." 

"  Stranger  I"  said  the  new-comer — a  very  raw-boned  gentle- 
man, in  unmistakably  home-made  clothes — "  Stranger  !  yeou're 
a  dog-gaun  fool." 

We  will  draw  a  veil  over  the  wordy  war  which  succeeded  this 
most  unceremonious  interruption.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that  it  was 
ridiculous  in  the  extreme.  But  as  the  disputants  waxed  wroth, 
and  their  conversation  grew  more  decidedly  personal,  we  wearied 
of  their  wrangling,  and  escaped  to  the  comparative  quiet  of  the 
cars  "going  West,"  which  were  still  stationary,  but  now  rapidly 
filling  up.  Here,  at  least,  thought  we,  we  shall  hear  nothing 
more  sonorous  than  the  long-drawn  snore  of  some  indigestion- 
haunted  sleeper.  But  we  "  counted  without  our  host,"  for  we 
had  not  yet  "  got  shet "  (as  the  Missourians  say)  of  the  "  nig- 
ger question."  In  fact,  we  had  barely  composed  ourself  for  a 
traveller's  nap,  when  an  impertinent  darkey  came  sauntering 
through  the  car,  where  he  ordered  about  the  passengers,  and 
attempted  to  arrange  their  seats  with  such  scanty  ceremony, 
that  the  exhibition  of  his  "  little  brief  authority  " — if  authority 


24 


YANKEE   VERSUS  DARKEY. 


it  was — called  forth  some  very  energetic  remonstrances  from 
those  whom  he  attempted  toSddress. 

Among  others,  a  choleric  old  Yankee,  with  a  perfect  sign- 
board of  a  nose,  broke  out  thus  : 

"  What  under  the  canopy  do  yeu  mean  ?  By  thunder,  I  guess 
yeu  own  this  train  ;  jest  tell  us,  will  yeu,  if  yeou're  a  regular 
nigger,  or  have  there  been  so  many  accidents  on  this  road  that 
the  company  thought  best  to  put  the  conductors  in  mourning, 
and  ordered  you  painted  black  accordingly  ?" 

To  this  "call  for  information,"  the  irate  darkey  returned  no 
particular  reply,  beyond  a  general  statement  to  the  effect,  that 
in  Canada  "  all  men  were  born  free  and  equal/'  or,  in  other 
words,  that  a  white  man  might  be  as  good  as  a  nigger,  if  he 
chose  to  exert  himself.  Now  all  this  might  have  passed  off  un- 
noticed, if  our  darkey,  in  the  bitterness  of  his  heart,  had  not  fin- 
ished his  remarks  by  requesting  his  interrogator  to  proceed  to 
the  "  unmentionable  to  ears  polite,"  with  all  convenient  speed. 
This  was  too  much — the  Yankee's  blood  was  up — he  grasped  the 
poker — and  we  really  believe  that  if  the  affrighted  Atrican  had 
not  vanished  from  the  cars,  without  even  a  hesitation  by  the 
way,  that  poker  would  have  "  played  Hail  Columbia  "  (as  our 
Yankee  expressed  it),  upon  his  thick-skulled  pate  ;  but  he  de- 
parted ere  his  fate  could 

"  Point  a  moral  or  adorn  a  tale." 

and  then  as  the  train  rolled  out,  the  pugnacious  Yankee  thrust 
his  huge  paw  into  a  great-coat  pocket,  and  produced  a  worsted 
night-cap,  whose  hue  rivalled  the  scarlet  of  its  owner's  "  sign- 
board of  a  nose,"  with  which  he  forthwith  proceeded  to  envelop 
his  head  ;  but  in  so  comical  a  manner,  that  the  tassel  vibrated 
like  a  pendulum  above  the  wearer's  left  eye,  while  the  sympa- 
thetic optic  kept  winking  and  blinking  as  it  moved.    To  com- 


THE   REO-NOSED  MAN, 


plete  his  preparations,  our  Yankee  then  turned  over  the  seat 
back  in  front  of  him,  so  as  to  secure  a  very  unfair  share  of  body 
room  ;  and  then,  with  his  short  legs  elevated  upon  a  cushion, 
and  his  night-capped  head  propped  snugly  against  the  window- 
blind,  he  settled  himself  to  a  slumber  which  we  envied,  but  tried 
in  vain  to  imitate. 


2 


DALAiSOh  AlA.. 


CHAPTER  II. 

INCIDENTS  BY  THE  WAY. 

Oh,  what  a  dreary  thing  is  night  travel  upon  a  railroad — 
whiz — bang — jounce — a  yell  that  might  wake  the  dead — fifteen 
miles  an  hour — shake — shake — shake — balance  all — thirty  miles 
an  hour — everything  dancing — nervous  old  maid  opposite  in  fits 
— stout  gentleman  vibrates  up  and  down,  as  if  his  understanding 
was  worked  by  springs — carpet-bags  come  jostling  from  their 
racks.  "  Got  a  cinder  in  your  eye,  sir  V*  "Yes,  dern  the  cin- 
der." "  Blow  your  nose,  then,  and  pull  down  the  eyelid."  "  How 
the  deuce  am  I  to  blow  my  nose,  sir,  when  it 's  almost  knocked 
off  by  that  last  jump  of  this  infernal  car  ?" 

Bang — crack — yell — forty  miles  an  hour. 

Shu — shu — shu — shuing  growing  fainter — you  are  getting 
drowsy — shuing  ceases — you  have  just  dropped  off — sudden 
shock — somebody  shakes  your  elbow — you  start  from  your  re- 
cumbent posture,  and  rub  your  bewildered  optics — an  uncom- 
promising looking  personage  stands  before  you — you  regard  his 
coat,  and  the  idea  of  a  police-officer  suggests  itself — you  con- 
template his  legs,  and  believe  him  to  be  an  out-door  clerk — your 
eye  wanders  upward  to  his  cap,  and  you  discover  your  mistake 
— for  the  man  is  labelled  like  a  medicine,  which  might  be  taken 
by  mistake — yes,  the.  magic  word  "  Conductor"  is  fairly  writ  in 
characters  of  gold  upon  his  hat-band,  so  that  he  who  runs  may 


THE  NIGHT-TRAIN. 


27 


read,  even  at  the  rate  of  forty  miles  per  hour.  He  is  a  man  of 
few  words  withal,  who  knows  you  not  as  Governor  A,  or  Gene- 
ral B,  the  gentleman  who  has  written  a  book  and  figured  in  the 
newspapers,  but  simply  as  the  man  in  the  brown  coat,  who  is 
going  so  many  miles,  and  must,  therefore,  pay  the  sum  indicated 
by  the  Company's  fare-table.  Like  poor  Poe's  raven,  he  has 
but  one  reiterated  cry — 't  is  "  ticket,  sir,"  and 

"  Nothing  more." 

You  draw  down  your  beaver  to  shield  your  visual  organs 
from  the  glare  of  the  lantern,  with  which  this  implacable  omcia1 
is  throwing  some  light  upon  your  tickets  (as  he  nips  another, 
hole,  the  sixth  since  you  started,  in  them,  with  the  little  patent 

j  shoemaker's  pincers  which  he  carries  in  his  right  hand),  or,  it 
may  be,  is  aiding  the  suspicious  inspection  of  the  circulating  me- 
dium, which,  in  the  innocence  of  your  heart,  you  took  confidingly 
from  his  brother  employee,  upon  the  "  down  train."  You  pay 
your  money,  and  receive  an  oblong  piece  of  paste-board,  marked 
"  Good  to  Blank,  for  this  trip  only,"  on  one  side,  and  labelled 
with  the  names  of  places  which  you  never  heard  of,  and  dis- 
tances that  you  don't  believe  in,  upon  the  other.  You  conclude 
your  business  with  the  conductor,  and  sink  back  into  your  place, 

I  where  you  strive  in  vain  to  compose  yourself,  but  it  won't  do, 
for  you  are  now  thoroughly  "  waked  up,"  and  must  wrestle 
fruitlessly  with  the  drowsy  god,  who  will  not  stay  to  bless  you, 
until  a  brace  of  squeals  from  the  locomotive,  followed  by  a  sud- 
den application  of  the  brakes,  brings  the  train  gradually  to  a 
halt,  when  the  coldest  door  is  thrown  open,  and  a  "gruff  voice" 
looks  in,  with  the  cry  of  "  Squashtown — train  stops  twenty  min- 
utes for  refreshments."    You  are  hungry  and  athirst  ;  you  are 

i  young  and  inexperienced  ;  you  antieipate  great  things  from 
Squashtown  ;  you  follow  the  crowd  of  half-famished  bipeds,  who 
rush  out  into  the  bleak  night  air  ;  you  step  upon  the  icy  platform  ; 


28 


SQUASHTOWN. 


your  heels  go  up  and  your  head  down  ;  you  have  a  free  ticket  to 
the  fireworks,  you  recover  yourself,  and  begin  to  realize  that 
you  are  a  "stranger  in  a  strange  country,"  to  which  you  may 
shortly  add,  "  and  they  took  me  in."  You  look  about  you,  are 
blinded  by  the  glare  of  unexpected  lights  in  extraordinary  places, 
and  almost  deafened  by  the  tintinnabulations  of  vociferous  din- 
ner-bells, which  are  being  frantically  rung  by  anxious-looking 
landlords,  who  stand  shivering  before  the  entrances  of  various 
rival  man-traps,  marked  "  Refreshment  Saloons."  You  still  fol- 
low the  crowd,  you  approach  one  of  these  competing  establish- 
ments, you  believe  in  the  sign-board,  you  allow  yourself  to  be 
humbugged,  you  enter  with  the  throng,  you  sit  down,  or  more 
frequently  stand  up,  to  a  long  table,  or  greasy  counter,  well 
covered  with  crockery,  consisting  of  plates,  containing  a  diminu- 
tive triangle  of  waxy,  cold  apple-pie  each,  pitchers  of  milk,  and 
.sugar-bowls,  which  suggest  strange  doubts  as  to  the  possibility 
of  obtaining  water  in  the  Squashtown  vicinity.  There  are 
cups  too,  that  can  be  filled  with  a  compound,  styled  coffee,  at  a 
York  shilling  per  cup.  You  don't  like  cold  apple-pie  at  mid- 
night, but  you  will  take  coffee  ;  a  distracted  waiter  hears,  and 
at  length  pays  attention  to  your  demand  ;  the  coffee  is  produced  ; 
did  you  observe  that  he  served  you  with  the  dirty  cup,  which 
has  just  been  emptied  by  your  neighbor  on  the  left  ?  You 
didn't  ?  Well,  never  mind  ;  but  we  will  make  our  affidavit  that 
you  got  something  more  than  "  sugar  and  cream "  for  one. 
Here  comes  your  coffee,  scalding  hot  ;  don't  like  it,  hey  ?  burnt 
your  mouth,  may-be  ?  "  Why,  waiter,  I  say,  this  isn't  coffee, 
it's  more  like  burnt  peas  ;  give  us  a  cup  of  tea."  "  Tea,  sir  ? 
yes,  sir  !  one  shilling,  sir  I  thank  you,  sir  1"  But  the  advent  of 
the  tea  is  marked  by  a  yell  of  warning  from  the  locomotive,  a 
cry  of  "  all  aboard,"  and  an  exeunt  omnes  from  your  fellow-pas- 
sengers. You  "  follow  suit,"  perforce,  and  resume  your  seat,  a 
"  sadder,  if  not  a  wiser  man,"  for  you  are  minus  a  quarter  for 


ALTON  AND  ST.  LOUIS. 


29 


"refreshments,"  and  plus — the  vexation  of  being  imposed 
upon.  « 

And  so  you  go  rushing  along,  with  a  shriek  and  a  roar,  across 
the  night-shrouded  landscape,  waking  the  echoes  of  the  frown- 
ing hills,  and  startling  the  slumberers  in  way-side  bed-cham- 
bers, as  the  iron  horse,  with  his  great  red  eyes  and  iron  sinews, 
drags  on  his  quivering  load — "  faster — faster — faster." 

The  morning  of  the  Tth  found  us  in  safety  at  Detroit,  from 
whence  we  journeyed  onward  through  chilly  Michigan,  until  a 
"cut  off"  by  rail  brought  us  to  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  ; 
here  we  changed  cars,  and  traversed  the  last-mentioned  State, 
under  the  heavy  disadvantages  (so  far  as  scenery  was  con- 
cerned), of  a  wet,  dismal,  sloppy  day,  with  a  stormy  sky  above, 
and  a  boggy,  rain-drenched  prairie  below.  What  wonder  then 
that  we  "  blessed  our  stars"  when  it  "  cleared  up  cold,"  just  as 
we  were  approaching  the  town  of  Alton,  where  the  passenger 
for  St.  Louis  shifts  himself  from  the  rattling  train,  to  embark 
upon  a  wheezy,  snorting,  broken-winded  steamboat,  which  labors 
on,  in  a  succession  of  convulsive  jerks,  until  you  "  tie  up  "  beside 
the  levee  at  St.  Louis. 

As  speed  was  everything,  for,  we  wanted,  if  possible,  to  over- 
take the  Kansas  War,  we  did  not  intend  to  tarry  in  St.  Louis, 
but  "  man  proposes,"  and  the  facilities  for  travelling  in  Missouri 
"  disposes,"  as  the  French  proverb,  does  not  say.  So,  after  char- 
tering a  boy,  and  lugging  ourself  through  the  mud  to  the  Pacific 
Railroad  depot,  we  found  that  it  did  not  connect,  and  until  the 
morrow  nothing  else  did.  Now  this  was  bad  enough,  but  it 
couldn't  be  helped,  and  we  were  therefore  fain  to  put  up  at  the 
u  Planters,"  a  good  house  once,  that  is  to  say  eight  years  ago,  since 
when  it  has  bravely  gotten  over  it. 

Here  our  first  care  was  to  descend  to  an  office  on  the  ground 
floor,  situated  in  one  corner  of  the  building,  where  you  can  buy 
tickets  to  go  almost  anywhere  beneath  "the  glimpses  of  the 


30 


SMASHUP  &  CO. 


moon,"  a  second  edition,  in  short,  of  our  hatched-faeed  friends'  in 
Broadway.  Bat  our  business  was  no  longer  with  railroad  men  ; 
we  had  got,  alas  !  to  the  "  end  of  our  tether,"  in  that  respect. 
We  must  now  travel  by  stage,  or  not  at  all.  It  was  therefore  to 
find  out  a  representative  of  the  firm  of  Smashup,  Breakdown 
&  Co.,  stage-agents  and  proprietors,  that  we  entered  the 
"Planters"  subterranean,  and  would  that  we  had  never  found 
them,  or,  having  found  them,  had  never  trusted  ourself  to 
their  tender  mercies.  Hear  us  then,  good  travellers — hearken, 
we  pray,  and  beware  how  you  enter  their  office,  (under  the 
"Planters"  in  St.  Louis),  unless,  indeed,  you  should  be  tired  of 
iliis  life,  or,  being  obese,  desire  to  be  reduced  in  flesh.  But 
listen  to  the  facts,  for  we  were  most  egregiously  "  done"  and  if 
Smashup,  Breakdown  &  Company  are  not  entitled  to  a  11  first- 
rate  notice,"  we  don't  know  who  are — so  here  goes. 

It  was  on  the  evening  of  Saturday,  Dec.  8th,  that  we  entered 
their  taking-in-trap  for  unsuspecting  travellers — we  saw  Smashup 
— we  intimated  that  we  were  a  newspaper  correspondent,  who 
wanted,  not  a  "free  ticket,"  but  reliable  information  as  to  the 
best  and  quickest  route  to  the  Kansas  frontier.  We  were 
informed  that  the  road  to  a  certain  place,  which  shall  be  name- 
less, was  not  more  beguiling,  nor  more  easily  to  be  traversed 
than  theirs  from  St.  Louis  to  Fort  Leavenworth — always  sup- 
posing the  pilgrim  to  have  a  through  ticket  from  Smashup — we 
believed  Smashup — we  trusted  him — Smashup  was  a  man  with 
iron-grey  hair — or  an  approximation  to  it — he  looked  amiable — 
had  a  Christian  expression  of  countenance — we  would  have  lent 
Smashup  five  dollars  (if  we  had  it),  on  his  face  alone.  In 
short,  we  let  Smashup  take  us  in.  We  asked  the  price  of  a 
ticket  to  Fort  Leavenworth  ?  the  answer  (given  in  a  most 
insinuating  tone  of  voice),  was  only  twenty-eight  dollars — the 
distance  is  about  three  hundred  and  twenty  miles,  and  the  sum 
mentioned  is  exactly  what  our  through  ticket  cost  us  from  New 


DOING  A  TRAVELLER. 


31 


York  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.  M  But,"  said  the  amiable  Smashup,  "  as 
you  are  a  representative  of  the  press,  we  must  do  something,  so 
We  will  only  charge  you  twenty-five  dollars — in  fact,  sir,"  added 
the  agent,  with  generous  warmth — "  we  will  make  an  exception, 
and  deduct  three  dollars."  Feeling  that  twenty-five  dollars  was 
quite  enough,  we  made  no  objection,  the  more  so  as  the 
Company  charges  only  fifteen  dollars  for  the  return  trip,  over 
the  same  road.  We  accordingly  disbursed  the  pecuniary  con- 
sideration, and  received  in  return  a  homoeopathic  card,  whose 
inscription  ran  thus  : 

"Stage  ticket— good  for  this  trip  only,  from  St.  Charles, 
(distant  eighteen  miles  by  railroad  from  St.  Louis),  to  Fort 
Leavenworth.    December  10th,  1855.    S.  S.  Blank,  agent." 

u  But  what  kind  of  stages  are  we  to  have,  Mr.  Smashup  ?" 

"  Good  stages,  sir,  and  careful  drivers." 

"  And  the  time  ?" 

"We  run  "night  and  day,  and  will  put  you  through  in  four 
days  from  the  date  of  your  ticket.  The  omnibus  will  call  for 
you  on  Monday  morning.    That  will  be  your  first  chance  to  go." 

As  we  have  said  before,  we  believed  in  Smashup,  so  we  pock- 
eted our  ticket  and  bade  that  amiable  gentleman  farewell,  with- 
out even  a  foreboding  that  like  that  oft-quoted  and  juvenile 
bear — "  all  our  sorrows  were  to  come." 

Upon  our  return  to  the  upper  chamber  of  the  "Planters," 
we  learned  that  General  Clarke  of  the  United  States  Army  was 
sojourning  in  the  house,  so,  presuming  upon  an  old  introduction, 
and  the  fact  that  we  were  in  pursuit  of  information — as  regar- 
ded matters  and  things  in  general,  and  Kansas  in  particular — 
we  took. the  liberty  of  sending  up  our  "pasteboard" — and  was 
soon  after  shown  to  his  room.  And  a  fine  specimen  is 
General  Clarke  of  the  hale,  hearty  old  gentleman ;  he  is  moreover, 
in  some  respects,  a  soldier  of  the  rough  and  ready — or 
may  we  not  as  well  say  at  once  of  the  American — school  ?  for 


32 


AT  THE   "  PLANTERS." 


few  possess  more  of  that  wonderful  desideratum  (in  this  age  of 
practical  humbug),  good,  strong,  hard,  common  sense.  The 
general  confirmed  the  statements  which  we  had  previously- 
heard  made,  by  those  well  qualified  to  judge,  as  to  there  being 
a  sufficiency  of  United  States  troops  then  stationed  in  Kansas 
within  striking  distance  of  the  scene  of  difficulty  to  put  down 
*ny  violations  of  law  and  order  in  the  Territory.  General 
Clarke,  however,  expressed  the  hope  that  so  sad  an  ultimatum 
might  never  become  necessary — as  it  should  be  the  very  last 
argument  resorted  to — to  which  we,  as  in  duty  bound,  said  a 
fervent  amen. 

The  following,  from  our  journal  of  the  9th,  is  of  that  days' 
experience,  all  which  seems  worthy  Qf  being  chronicled  here. 

It  blew  here  last  night  as  if  Old  Boreas  had  left  all  his  store-house 
doors  open.  Some  of  the  boats  on  the  river  broke  loose  from  their  moor- 
ings. We  hear,  however,  of  no  very  serious  damage  being  done.  At 
Jefferson  Barracks  the  brick  and  plaster  work  suffered  considerably,  and 
an  officer  who  left  there  this  morning,  tells  us  that  the  parade-ground  is 
littered  with  fragments  of  roofs,  walls,  porches,  etc.  When  the  gale  was  at 
its  height  a  fire-alarm  was  sounded — we  turned  out  immediately,  in  a  light 
undress,  consisting  of  a  shirt  and  drawers,  without  stockings,  for,  like  the 
Hibernian  at  the  Astor,  we  didn't  even  know  that  the  hotel  was  insured,  and 
we  were  quite  positive  that  we  were  not.  The  fire,  however,  proved  to  be 
upon  Fourth  street,  it  having  broken  out  in  the  interior  of  two  small  brick 
stores,  where  it  was  very  wisely  permitted  to  burn  itself  out.  Apropos  to 
fires,  we  will  back  the  St.  Louis  Fire  Department,  even  against  the  B'hoys 
who  "  run  wid  der  mashine"  in  the  Empire  City,  for  making  a  "  confusion 
worse  confounded"  upon  these  occasions,  for,  despite  the  howling  of  the 
storm  we  never  heard  such  a  "  human  rumpus"  at  a  fire  before.  But  perhaps 
it  is  as  innocent  a  way  of  evaporating  one's  animal  spirits  as  any  other 
which  could  be  devised — and  far  be  it  from  us  to  interfere  with  the  pleas- 
ures of  the  people. 

We  have  met  to  day,  for  the  first  time  in  three  years,  with  our  valued 
friend — Assistant  Surgeon  Joseph  B.  Brown  of  the  Army — one  of  the  best 
officers  of  his  grade  on  the  Medical  Staff.    We  had  been  comrades  upon 


THE  MUD  CART. 


33 


the  frontiers  of  Mexico,  had  ridden  side  by  side,  through  many  a  weary 
mile  of  Texan  chaparral,  and  broken  commissary  biscuit  at  the  same  table, 
amid  the  swamps  on  the  head  waters  of  the  Los  Moras.  But  our  time  for 
"  comparing  notes"  was  of  the  shortest,  for  we  found  that  the  Doctor  was 
leaving  that  morning,  with  his  "wife  and  bairns,"  for  Old  Point  Comfort 
Va. :  from  whence  he  was  ordered  to  embark  for  service  with  the  Ninth  In- 
fantry in  Oregon.  May  the  Indians  spare  him. 
And  so  ends  Sunday,  December  the  9th. 

We  began  our  Monday  by  breakfasting  at  early  dawn,  and 
then  getting  into  a  chilly  omnibus  and  driving  in  company  with 
five  miserable-looking  beings  (the  whole  party,  ourself  included, 
presenting  the  general  appearance,  as  seen  by  the  uncertain  light 
of  a  bitter  winter  morning,  of  having  been  up  all  night),  to  the 
starting  point  of  the  North  Missouri  railroad— from  whence  an 
eighteen,  or  as  some  call  it  thirteen  miles*  ride,  brought  us  to  the 
Missouri  river  shore,  just  opposite  the  town  of  St.  Charles, 
which  we  reached  in  due  course  of  time,  by  a  steam  ferry-boat, 
whose  exterior  at  least  would  have  astonished  a  New  Yorker  to 
a  very  considerable  degree. 

St.  Charles,  Mo.,  is,  to  our  fancy,  about  the  meanest  town 
which  it  has  yet  been  our  misfortune  to  set  foot  in — being  half 
French,  three-quarters  Dutch,  and,  as  an  Irishman  would  say, 
the  other  half  "  nigga." 

On  our  arrival  here,  we  went  to  a  "  groggery  "  looking  sort 
of  tavern — where  a  couple  of  "  foreigners  n  drinking  Schnapps,  a 
low  ceiled  room,  and  a  high  bar  with  quaint  old  drinking- glasses, 
made  up  a  very  Flemish  interior.  In  this  Gerald  Douw-ish  seem- 
ing place  we  were  detained  half  an  hour,  when  a  cry  of  "  here 
comes  de  stage,"  brought  us  to  the  door,  to  catch  a  glimpse  of 
the  vehicle  in  which  we  felt  so  deeply  interested,  and,  oh  horror! 
how  shall  we  describe  the  "  thing  n  which  met  our  affrighted 
gaze — for  really  "  Miss  O'Dowd's  convaniency  "  was  a  "  fool  to 
it." 

2* 


34 


THE  TEN. 


But  let  us  attempt  a  description.  It  was  what  the  Missourians 
call  a  M  mud  cart" — a  cross  in  fact  between  a  second-hand 
bakers'  wagon — and  a  hospital  ambulance  which  had  seen  hard 
service  ;  this  blessed  institution  was  calculated  to  hold  six  by 
the  builder,  and,  as  we  afterwards  discovered,  nine  by  the  stage 
company*  In  short,  it  was  to  us  a  terrible  surprise — a  kind  of 
waking  nightmare  that  we  couldn't  get  over.  But  as  Smashup, 
Breakdown  &  Company  were  just  eighteen  miles  in  our  rear, 
and  the  "  Wakarusa  war,"  supposed  to  be  raging  ahead  of  us, 
we  strove  to  make  the  best  of  a  bad  business  by  hoisting  ourself 
into  the  u  mud-cart,"  which  didn't  improve  upon  a  closer  inspec- 
tion, where  we  shoved  our  carpet-bag  under  our  feet,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  insert  ourself  into  the  still  unoccupied  half  of  the  front 
seat,  for  the  place  by  our  side  had  already  been  taken  by  a  very 
clever  seeming  Yirgiuian,  with  whom  we  had  just  scraped  an 
acquaintance  upon  the  cars,  which  bade  fair  to  increase  and 
prosper.  The  back  seat  was  also  full — a  hale  old  gentleman 
and  his  daughter,  a  rather  pretty  Missourian  girl,  who  looked 
anything  but  charmed  with  our  conveyance,  being  its  occu- 
pants— yet  the  middle  bench  was  still  empty.  Well  thought 
we,  this  is  not  so  very  bad  after  all,  if  the  "  mud-cart"  is  a 
humbug,  it  is  at  all  events  not  crowded,  and  that  in  staging  is 
no  small  advantage  ;  but  even  this  hope  was  destined  to  be  dis- 
pelled, for  our  landlord  cried,  "  Driver,  don't  forget  those  passen- 
gers, they're  all  ready  to  start." 

"  What  passengers  ?"  shouted  we,  as  our  Jehu  began  hand- 
ling his  lines  ;  "  how  many  ?" 

We  caught  the  landlord's  reply,  which  overtook  us  on  the 
road,  as  we  rattled  down  the  mud-hole  of  a  main-street.  It 
was  a  staggerer,  for  it  said,  "  only  ten."  Ten  1  we  turned  pale 
at  the  very  thought  ;  ten  and  four  made  fourteen — and  fourteen 
in  a  stage  mud-cart  !  It  seemed  an  impossibility.  "  Smack 
went  the  whip,  on  rolled  the  wheels  " — "  was  ever  man  so  sad  ?" 


THE  DUTCH  STAGE-AGENT. 


65 


till  we  halted  at  the  door  of  a — a  far  Western  Hotel,  Class 
No.  2,  and  depreciating  at  that.  And  there,  dreadful  to  relate, 
stood  the  ten,  the  expectant  ten,  all  waiting  to  be  jammed,  with 
such  a  wagon-load  of  luggage,  and  so  many  little  things  which 
must  be  carried  inside,  that  we  felt  assured  that  our  hypothesis 
of  an  impossibility  would  be  correct,  and  thereby  save  us  per- 
force, at  least  in  part. 

But  who  were  the  ten?  They  consisted,  so  far  as  a  bird's- 
eye  view  could  inform  us,  of  three  very  "  Deown  East "  looking 
Yankees,  with  two  "ladies,"  old  and  young-r-neither  beinsr 
pretty — and  a  little  girl  to  fill  up  their  half  dozen,  for  these  six 
went  in  a  lot,  all,  Yankee-like,  anxious  to  get  ahead,  while  the 
remaining  four,  two  of  whom  were  Hibernians,  stood  looking 
on,  as  if  it  were  a  matter  of  perfect  indifference  to  them  whether 
they  spent  the  day  where  they  were  or  not. 

In  the  meanwhile  the  St.  Charles  agent  of  the  stage-line — a 
little  Dutchman  with  a  mulish  face — had* made  his  appearance, 
way-bill  in  hand,  on  the  pavement  before  the  inn,  where  he  stood 
looking  distractedly  from  the  document  in  his  fist  to  the  eager 
group  of  Yankees,  who  had  evidently  made  up  their  minds  to 
get  in  "  whether  or  no."  Time  was  passing,  and  the  driver  be- 
coming impatieut  ;  but  the  Dutchman  could  get  no  light  upon  his 
dilemma.  He  couldn't  jam  even  six  more  inside  ;  he  might  squeeze 
in  nine  in  all  ;  but  he  wouldu't  hire  an  extra  coach.  He 
scratched  his  head  ;  he  pondered  ;  he  couldn't  cypher  it  out. 
At  length  a  brilliant  thought  seemed  to  have  struck  him  ;  he 
had  determined  to  do  it  by  subtraction. 

"  Sir,"  said  he,  to  our  half-frozen  self,  "  your  name  ish  last 
upon  de  bill.  You  ish  expected  to  ride  on  de  driver  mit  de 
outshide." 

To  this  modest  proposition  a  voice  (it  was  ours,  speaking  from 
the  inner  fold  of  a  mammoth  woollen  comforter),  mildly  objected, 
and  the  following  dialogue  ensued  : 


36 


A  ROW  FOR  TWO. 


He. — "  But  you  mush  git  out  ;  dese  peoples  mush  go  ou. 
Mein  Gott,  but  you  mush." 

We. — "  But  I  have  paid  my  money,  sir.  Here  is  my  ticket, 
duly  made  out,  good  for  this  day,  aud  this  day  only." 

He. — "  But  I  cannot  help  him,  sir  ;  you  mush  git  out,  or  ride 
mit  de  outshide  on  de  driver." 

We. — "  But  I  won't.    I've  got  a  bad  cold." 

lie. — "  You  musht.  You  may  go  back  and  sue  mit  de  com- 
pany, if  dere  ish  anyting  dat  ish  wrong." 

We. — "  But  I  won't.  I  haven't  time  to  go  back  and  sue  the 
company.    My  business  is  to  go  ahead,  and  I'm  going." 

He. — "  You  mush  get  out,  or  I  shall  make  you." 

At  this  stage  of  the  conversation  we  opened  our  great  coat, 
and  displayed  the  mild-looking  butt  of  a  persuasive  revolver 
(for  we  had  taken  the  precaution  to  briug  with  us  at  least  five 
good  reasons  for  being  politely  treated).  Haviug  turned  the 
handle  of  this  weapon  somewhat  ostentatiously  into  a  more 
come-at-able  position,  we  assumed,  so  far  as  our  very  amiable 
countenance  would  permit,  the  manner  and  style  of  the  "  Blood- 
drinking  Border-Ruffian,"  as  we  had  seen  those  worthies  set 
forth  in  Crockett's  Yarns,  and  Far- Western  Almanacs,  and 
delivered  ourself  as  follows  : 

"  Stranger,  we  war  raised  in  South- Western  Texas,  we  war. 
We  can't  be  crowded — not  much.  We  air  considered  hard  to 
run  against — we  air  a  reg'lar  pine-knot.  Ef  we  air  moved  from 
this  hyar  cart,  we  must  be  lifted.  But  ef  yeou  feel  like  it, 
stranger,  don't  restrain  yeourself — pitch  in.  We're  considered 
as  numerous  as  most  folks,  we  are." 

In  fact,  we  defined  our  position,  and  "  rared  back"  upon 
our  "  reserved  rights  "  generally,  at  the  same  time  intimating  to 
our  krout-eating  friend,  that  if  he  wanted  his  "  haf  raised  off 
his  head,  like  a  wild  Ingiu's,  he  had  better  take  a  hand." 

The  agent  grows  civil  and  disappears.    We  supposed  the 


THE  CITY  MARSHAL. 


37 


fight  was  over,  and  was  just  congratulating  ourself  upon  having 
gained  a  very  easy  victory,  in  which  (as  the  bulletins  have  Sc  id) 
we  "  had  to  regret  the  loss  of  none  killed  and  none  wounded."  iiut 
we  were  never  more  disappointed  in  our  life. 

Interval  of  twenty  minutes,  during  which  we  sat  munching  .*n 
underdone  ginger-cake.  Time  up.  The  agent  returns,  accoji 
panied  by  a  short  individual  in  a  long  nose,  red  hair,  and  a 
light,  saffron  complexion,  to  accord.  Small  individual  looked 
fierce,  and  remarked  that  his  name  was  Johns  ;  we  suggested 
that  we  were  glad  to  hear  it,  and  thought  the  appellation  rather 
pretty  than  otherwise. 

"  But  I  want  you  to  know,  sir,  that  I 'm  the  city  marshal." 

We  intimated  that  it  was  a  gratification  to  us  to  receive  that 
interesting  piece  of  intelligence. 

"  But,  sir,  you  must  get  out  of  that  stage." 

We  stated  that  we  were  sorry  to  refuse  so  pleasant-spoken  a 
gentleman,  but  that,  under  the  circumstances,  it  would  be  utterly 
out  of  our  power  to  gratify  him. 

"  But  you  must." 

"  But  I  shan't." 

"  But  it's  a  law,  sir,  in  the  State  of  Missouri,  that  the  tenth 
passenger  rides  outside." 

We  intimate  a  doubt,  and  express  a  desire  to  see  chapter  and 
verse  ;  the  marshal  steps  forward  threateningly  ;  we  produce  our 
five-shooter,  and  begin  dandling  it  upon  our  knee. 

An  awful  pause. 

We  admit  our  willingness  to  acknowledge  the  majesty  of  Mis- 
souri law,  by  submitting  to  any  legal  process,  reserving  to  our- 
self, however,  the  right  to  demand  the  writ,  and  surrender  our 
body  under  protest,  with  a  promise  to  prosecute  the  red-haired 
individual  for  an  assault  with  a  battery  to  boot,  should  he  over- 
step the  powers  of  his  office.  We  wind  up  our  business  with  the 
saffron-colored  functionary  in  these  words  : 


38 


WE  CONQUER. 


"  It  strikes  me,  Mr.  Marshal,  that  you're  making  a  fool  of 
yourself.  If  you  have  got  a  warrant  for  me,  show  it  ;  if  you 
have  not,  mind  your  own  business,  and  save  trouble  ;  for,  with- 
out intending  to  threaten,  I  want  to  assure  you  that  I  intend  to 
protect  myself." 

The  marshal  hesitates — he  will  not  take  the  responsibility — 
five  minutes  more — our  logic  has  triumphed — the  marshal  has 
succumbed.  The  red-haired  man  takes  his  long  nose  and  saffron- 
colored  complexion  out  of  our  visual  horizon — the  stage-agent  is 
discomfited,  and  goes  with  his  head  cowed  down,  like  the  tail  of 
a  cur  in  difficulty,  to  procure  an  extra  hack,  into  which  steps  the 
hale  old  gentleman  with  his  pretty  daughter,  leaving  our  back 
seat  to  be  refilled  (oh,  most  unhappy  change),  by  the  old  and 
young  Yankee  ladies  with  the  little  girl  aforesaid — two  Yankees, 
male  specimens,  then  pile  into  the  middle  seat,  while  the  third 
perches  himself  upon  the  box,  beside  the  driver  ;  and  so,  being 
"  all  wrong,"  we  "  roll  out n  for  Kansas. 

The  agent,  mounted  upon  a  rat  of  a  mule,  whose  expressive 
counteuauce  seemed  modelled  after  its  rider's,  trotted  by  our  side 
until  we  were  clear  of  "  the  town,"  where  he  took  his  departure, 
and  as  he  did  so,  we  thrust  our  body  half  out  of  the  place  where 
the  mud-wagon's  curtain  ought  to  have  been,  to  wave  an  ironical 
adieu,  and  desire  our  "most  particular  regards  to  his  red-haired 
friend,  the  city  marshal.'' 


WINTER  SCENERY. 


39 


CHAPTER  III. 

A  HARD  ONE  FOR  THE  AUTHOR. 

From  this  time  forth,  until  the  day  of  our  return  to  St.  Louis, 
we  may  truly  say  that  we  suffered  "  some."  For  if  the  happi- 
ness of  life  be  composed  of  trifles,  it  is  equally  indisputable,  that 
little  discomforts  make  up  its  miseries.  And  oh,  that  dreary 
day  1  the  first  of  a  long  procession  of  dreary  days,  each  gloomier 
than  the  last  ;  which,  even  now  (as  we  scribble  up  our  experiences 
amid  the  superfluities  of  a  city  residence),  give  us  a  shiver,  as 
we  recall  them  to  mind  ;  for  they  have  left  upon  the  tablet  of 
our  memory  a  most  un-Gignoux-ish  winter  scene,  with  no  sun- 
shine in  its  leaden  sky,  full  of  huge  trees,  dismantled  by  the 
December  blast,  with  great  arms  rocking  to  and  fro,  and  un- 
thrifty-looking farms,  where  the  half-frozen  cattle  sought  shelter 
in  vain,  or  crowded  against  each  other  to  keep  out  the  piercing 
cold  ;  and  then  the  searching,  bitter  wind,  the  vain  attempts  to 
guard  yourself  from  the  weather  ;  the  getting  chilled  and  rest- 
less, and  sleepy  ;  the  conversation  growing  shorter  and  more 
6nappish  as  the  day  wore  on  ;  the  quarrels  for  room  ;  the  diffi- 
culties between  your  legs  and  the  lower  limbs  of  your  fellow- 
passengers,  which  could  not  be  compromised  ;  the  ruts  ;  the 
mud-holes,  masked  with  ice  that  wouldn't  bear  ;  with  a  finale  at 
night-fall,  in  the  shape  of  a  halt  at  a  log-cabin  hotel,  where  the 
"stage  got  supper,"  and  the  landlord,  a  very  old  settler, 
brought  out  a  bottle  of  corn-whisky,  and  a  bowl  of  brown 


40 


RIBS  AND  SIDES. 


sugar,  and  asked  us  to  "step  up  and  take  a  little  something 
before  tea."  After  which,  supper  was  announced,  and  we 
walked  into  the  kitchen  (an  establishment,  by  the  way,  that  re- 
minded us  strongly  of  the  houses  which  we  used  to  bnild  out  of 
corn-cobs,  when  a  boy),  to  eat  it ;  and  now,  with  your  permis- 
sion, we  will  chronicle  that  supper,  as  a  fit  exponent  of  our  way- 
side meals,  with  two  blessed  exceptions,  from  the  Alpha  to  the 
Omega  of  our  recent  far  Western  travel. 

Imprimis. — It  was  in  "  killing  time,"  and  hog-meat  was  every- 
where ;  so  we  had  sausages  at  both  ends  and  ribs  in  the  middle, 
flanked  by  other  and  less  recognizable  preparations  of  the 
unclean  beast.  Then  there  were  dried  apples,  underdone  hot 
biscuits,  with  what  Willis  would  call  two  stomach-aches  in  each, 
and  coffee,  considered  such  by  courtesy — a  beverage  not  to  be 
indulged  in  with  impunity — all  of  which  was  provided  at  the 
very  moderate  rate  of  four  bits  (a  bit  being  the  universal  appel- 
lation for  a  York  shilling  in  Missouri)  per  head. 

N.  B. — We  forgot  to  add  three  dirty  "niggers"  who  served 
the  repast,  and  a  white  woman  who  took  the  head  of  the  table, 
where  she  seemed  ill  at  ease,  and  appeared  to  us  like  the  perso- 
nification of  chills  and  fever,  and  an  overworked  one  at  that. 

And  then  the  driver,  who  had  supped  with  "  the  stage  " — for 
the  Far  West  levels  all  social  distinctions — thrust  in  his  head  with 

"  Stage's  ready — all  aboard,  gentlemen  !" 

We  gathered  our  coat  about  us — wrapped  our  comforter  more 
closely  about  our  ears — seized  our  carpet-bag — cast  "  one  last, 
long,  lingering  look  behind  "  at  the  huge  log-fire  and  the  ruddy 
light  within,  and  then  anathematized  the  stage  company,and  re- 
sumed our  seat.  If  the  dreary  day  had  been  full  of  sorrows, 
what  was  that  night  ? 

"No  stars — no  moon — 
All  dark — all  gloom — 
We  rumbled  on — still  on." 


A  D0G-GAUN  BAD  PLACE. 


41 


Till  with  a  whoa  I  and  a  sudden  pull  up,  the  driver  poked  in 
his  head  at  the  termination  of  the  first  two  miles'  jolting,  and 
requested  all  hands  to  get  out,  as  "  he  allowed  he'd  broke  a 
king-bolt." 

There  was  no  use  in  grumbling — we  descended — we  stepped 
into  a  mud-hole — we  wet  our  feet — we  swore,  I  am  afraid  we 
did — we  got  a  rail — we  made  a  mechanical  power  of  ourself — 
we  helped  to  hoist  the  mud-cart  upon  its  wheels  ;  and  then 
being  all  wrong,  got  in  again  ;  but  we  might  have  spared  our- 
self the  trouble,  for  it  was  first  a  hill  and  then  a  descent — a 
"  corduroy  "  road,  or  it  may  be  an  insinuating  suggestion  from 
the  driver,  such  as  : 

"  Here's  a  dog-gaun  bad  place,  gentlemen  ;  ef  yeou  don't  want 
yeour  necks  broke,  yeou'd  better  git  out  ;  but  it  don't  make  no 
difference  to  me — I  don't  kear — you  may  stay  in  ef  yeou'd  drather." 

It  is  needless  to  say  that  we  didn't  "  drather."  And  thus 
the  night  wore  on,  between  shaking  inside,  and  "  footing  it  "  out, 
until  two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  when  one  of  our  "  ower  care- 
ful "  drivers  got  out  to  14  pick  a  place  "  at  which  to  cross 
"  a  slew,"  or  what  Western  men  call  a  11  branch/'  which  inter- 
sected the  road  immediately  in  front  of  us.  Having  fouud  what 
he  was  pleased  to  designate  as  "a  heap  the  best  crossing,"  he 
remounted  his  perch,  seized  the  reins,  urged  on  his  cattle,  and 
dashed  in  ;  the  leaders  scrambled  out  of  the  half-frozen  ditch, 
for  such  it  was  ;  the  wheelers  followed,  but  not  so  the  coach- 
there  was  a  sudden  stop — a  crash — a  heavy  fall — and  then  a 
sort  of  smothered  howl  from  the  driver,  with  a  noise  like  a 
locomotive  running  away,  induced  us  to  poke  our  head  out  into 
the  night  for  information— and  a  pretty  prospect  it  was  which 
met  our  eye.  The  stage,  with  its  cargo  of  passengers  and 
luggage,  was  embedded  in  the  slew,  while  the  luckless  driver 
sat  upon  the  ground  some  ten  feet  in  advance  of  his  box,  from 
whence  he  had  been  dragged  by  the  lines  ;  and  where  he  was  just 


42 


SMASHED  UP. 


then  engaged  in  feeling  of  his  bones,  as  if  to  assure  himself 
that  they  were  unbroken,  with  interludes,  as  the  small  bills 
say,  of  tender  manipulations  in  certain  back  settlements, 
which  wouldn't,  at  that  particular  moment,  bear  any  great 
amount  of  friction.  The  team  in  the  meanwhile  was  out  of 
sight,  but  we  couldn't  complain,  as  they  had  certainly  been 
pleased  to  make  a  very  equal  distribution  of  the  spoils,  by  taking 
with  them  their  share  of  the  concern,  the  fore-wheels  and  their 
appurtenances,  and  leaving  to  us  the  body  of  the  mud  wagon, 
with  its  hind  wheels  and  boot-load  of  luggage  attached.  As  we 
afterwards  discovered,  they  ran  about  half  a  mile,  strewing  sun- 
dry fragments  here  and  there  as  they  went,  as  if  to  mark  their 
road  ;  nor  is  it  probable  that  they  would  have  halted  short  of 
the  next  station,  full  two  miles  further  on,  if  they  had  not 
grown  weary  of  dragging  one  of  their  companions,  the  rear 
wheeler,  who  had  the  ill  luck  to  fall,  and  whom  (as  they  were 
too  much  hurried  to  give  the  beast  time  to  pick  himself  up), 
they  consequently  pulled  after  them  by  the  harness-leather  across 
the  frozen  prairie  ruts,  until  the  unfortunate  animal  was  lite- 
rally flayed  alive  from  the  tip  of  his  nose  to  the  very  end  of  his 
scraggy-looking  tail,  when  they  magnanimously  condescended  to 
stop  and  permit  themselves  to  be  caught. 

Having  accomplished  this  much,  we  all,  driver  included,  left 
the  vehicle,  with  our  "  plunder,"  and  that  famous  traveller,  Uncle 
Sam's  Mail,  to  take  its  chance  upon  the  broad  prairie,  while  we 
"put  out"  in  search  of  fire  and  a  shelter;  these  were  finally 
obtained,  after  some  hunting  about  in  the  gloom  of  that  dreary 
hour  which  immediately  precedes  the  breaking  of  day,  in  a  little 
hill-side  log-cabin,  where,  thanks  to  a  good-natured  Missourian, 
who  got  up  and  opened  the  pin-fastened  door  to  receive  us, 
our  benumbed  passengers  found  a  Western  welcome  to  such  com- 
forts as  its  very  limited  accommodations  could  afford.  So  we 
made  the  best  of  a  bad  matter,  and  forthwith  crouched  down 


THE  WAY-SIDE  STATION. 


43 


upon  a  low  stool  before  the  heaped-up  wood-fire — burning  one 
side,  and  shivering  upon  the  other,  as  we  turned  ourself,  like  a 
perambulating  meat-jack,  to  its  blaze,  until  the  first  faint  glimmer 
of  the  morning  light  crept  in  through  the  unchinked  logs  to 
herald  the  coming  of  the  dawn,  when  we  once  more  took  the 
road,  and  in  company  with  our  Virginian  friend,  pushed  on  to 
"  the  station,"  where,  in  the  proper  course  of  events,  the  mud- 
cart  should  have  changed  horses  some  hours  before,  at  which  we 
arrived,  per  Shanks  mare,  without  further  casualty.  Here  we 
breakfasted  at  "  the  hotel*" — a  log-cabin,  of  course — on  the 
stereotyped  bill  of  fare — attended  to  our  ablutions,  and  repaired 
damages  generally — and  then  passed  two  very  unentertaining 
hours  in  company  with  a  brace  of  Missouri  hog-drivers,  whose 
conversation,  save  when  it  turned  upon  the  mysteries  of  their 
trade,  contained,  as  our  city  journalists  say,  when  referring  to 
the  arrival  of  the  "Southern  mail" — "nothing  new."  At  ten 
o'clock,  a.  m.,  our  driver,  a  very  independent  sort  of  person, 
after  refreshing  himself  with  hog  meat,  coffee,  "  a  sleep  and  a 
smoke,"  thought  proper  to  go  down  and  look  after  the  mud-cart, 
which  was  still  reposing  most  iugloriously  in  the  ditch.  It  was 
nearly  noon,  therefore  before  we  finally  got  under  way  again, 
and  went  jolting  over  a  road  which  grew  worse  at  every  mile. 
The  close  of  another  miserable  day  found  us  at  a  blacksmith's 
shop  and  groggery,  of  a  town  whose  very  name  we  have  for- 
gotten, and  another,  and  yet  more  comfortless  night — with  some 
little  assistance  from  an  intoxicated  driver,  brings  us  to  an  upset, 
which  we  consider  noticeable,  the  more  so,  as  it  came  within  an 
ace  of  making  a  very  striking  impression  upon  our  brain,  in  a 
double  sense. 

It  was  a  December  night — a  credit  to  the  family  of  such 
nights,  dark,  frosty,  and  depressing.  We  had  two  drivers  upon 
the  box — one  a  "  native,"  very  drunk,  and  the  other  a  Dutch- 
man, who  was  only  partially  so,  "  by  chance."    The  Dutchman 


44 


AN  UPSET. 


had  the  lines — we  were  half  a-sleep — having  got  as  near  a  state 
of  "  blessed  unconsciousness,"  as  we  ever  do  in  a  night-coach, 
when  a  quick  tipping  of  the  "  stage,"  followed  by  a  general 
smash  up,  apprised  us  (even  without  the  exclamations  of  "  Oh, 
Lord  !  we're  over."  "  Oh,  murder  !"  "  Oh,  somebody  !  take  me 
out,"  which  came  dolefully  from  the  Yankee  ladies  in  the 
back  seat),  that  the  mud-cart  was  done  for.  Fortunately  for  us, 
however,  the  vehicle  was  so  accommodating  as  not  to  turn  over 
upon  our  side — a  matter,  by  the  way,  of  small  congratulation 
to  the  poor  Virginian,  upon  whom  we  fell  heavily.  Upon  reach- 
ing the  ground  we  found  ourself  at  the  top — (thank  fortune 
for  that) — of  a  confused  mass  of  arms,  legs,  bodies,  and 
travelling-bags — and  as  it  is  very  difficult  to  prevent  mistakes 
in  the  dark — and  we  didn't  like  to  tarry  longer  in  a  place  which 
might  prove  unhealthy,  if  the  horses  started — we  forthwith  pro- 
ceeded to  extricate  ourselves,  with  more  speed  than  cere- 
mony. What  wonder  then,  that,  in  helping  ourself  out,  we 
should  have  committed  the  trifling  impoliteness  of  setting  one  foot 
in  the  old  Yankee's  mouth,  as  he  afterwards  declared,  to  tho 
great  detriment  of  his  front  teeth — while  we  kicked  his  better-half 
in  the  stomach  with  the  other,  until  a  change  of  position  allowed 
us  to  make  a  step-ladder  of  our  Virginian's  back-bone,  as  he 
lay  snugly  coiled  up  below — from  whence  another  stride  brought 
us  out  of  the  place  where  the  upper  window-glass  ought  to  have 
been.  Being  once  more  head  uppermost,  and  safely  landed  upon 
terra  Jirma,  we  flew  to  the  assistance  of  the  fairer  portion  of  our 
companions,  one  of  whom  at  least,  if  she  were  susceptible  of 
cholic,  must  have  been  suffering  severely  from  the  external  appli- 
cation of  our  buffalo  soles.  Nor  was  it  a  difficult  matter  to 
decide  upon  the  precise  whereabouts  of  these  females  in  distress, 
for  the  locality  into  which  they  had  been  tumbled  by  the  catas- 
trophe was  made  evident  by  a  series  of  squalls  in  the  duet  style, 
the  old  lady  doing  the  first,  and  the  younger  the  second  treble, 


SAVE  THE  LADIES. 


45 


with  very  opera-like  effect.  To  out  knife  and  cut  away  the 
leather  curtains  which  fastened  them  in,  was  the  work  of  a 
moment  ;  to  put  in  our  hand  and  get  hold  of  something — we 

believe  it  was  the  old  lady's  limb,  was  the  work  of  another, 

and  then  with  a  yo-he-oh  !  we  tugged  away,  until  we  had  suc- 
ceeded in  hauling  the  venerable  matron  into  the  outer  air,  where 
she  arrived  in  a  very  flustered  condition — quite  wrong  side  up 
with  care.  Having  thus  happily  accomplished  the  deliverance 
of  the  senior,  we  turned  our  attention  toward  ameliorating  the 
condition  of  the  younger  lady,  whose  outcries  still  continued  to 

"  Vex  the  drowsy  ear  of  night," 

in  which  laudable  effort  we  were  assisted  by  our  Virginian,  who 
had  by  this  time  picked  himself  out,  with,  as  he  expressed  it : 

"Thank  God  no  broken  bones — but  a  very  sore  back,  for 
somebody — one  of  those  vile  Yankees  he  believed — had  kicked 
him  there,  right  on  his  spine,  in  their  efforts  to  save  themselves, 
and  he'd  be  derned  if  he  didn't  just  wish  that  he  knew  which 
one  of  them  it  was." 

We  thought  that  we  might  have  given  him  some  insight  into 
the  matter,  but  judiciously  refrained — so  after  much  poking,  and 
some  awkward  mistakes,  in  the  course  of  which  our  Virginian 
came  very  near  getting  even  with  the  male  Yankees  still  strug- 
gling inside,  we  got  hold  of  the  young  lady,  and  placed  her  beside 
the  elder.  And  as  we  watched  the  damsel  who  stood  shaking 
out  her  petticoats,  it  occurred  to  us  that,  in  one  respect  at  least, 
she  had  got  ahead  of  her  venerable  companion,  insomuch  as 
she  had  been  delivered  by  a  head  instead  of  a  feet  presentation, 
having  been  literally  lugged  out  by  the  hair. 

Our  next  procedure,  after  having  counted  noses,  and  as- 
sured ourselves  that  there  were  no  bones  broken,  was  to  pass  a 
general  vote  of  censure,  or,  in  other  words,  we  uttered  curses 
both  loud  and  deep  against  the  firm  of  Smashup  Breakdown  & 


46 


DRUNKEN  DRIVERS. 


Co.,  general  stage-agents  of  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  their  devices  : 
with  a  particular  application  of  our  remarks  to  the  offending 
stage-drivers  then  and  there  present,  for  their  excessive  stu- 
pidity and  unpardonable  drunkenness,  to  all  of  which  "  the  Na- 
tive," a  surly  sort  of  fellow,  hiccoughed  out  something  about  his 
"  havin'  known  of  a  feller  that  once  got  his  neck  bruk"  on  an 
H  Ingianny"  stage,  who  had  bin  paid  as  much  as  five  thousand 
dollars  for  doin'  it,  by  the  stage  folks  ;  and  he  jest  allowed  that 
ef  any  on  us  war  killed,  the  company  would  hev  to  pay  us  for 
the  privilig;"  an  assurance  which,  though  it  might  have  been  a 
comfort  to  an  Irishman,  had  no  more  soothing  effect  upon  us  than 
to  draw  forth  the  remark,  that  we  didn't  want  to  put  Smashup 
to  any  such  expense,  at  least  upon  our  own  personal  account. 

"  But,  stranger  (continued  the  Native),  I  (hie)  jest  know  that 
I'd  hev  (hie)  my  neck  broke  (hie)  for  that  ;  couldn't  a  feller  buy 
a  few  acres  and  a  nigger  (hie)  or  two  niggers,  may-be — well  he 
could  (hie)  yes — (here  a  pause  for  reflection) — yes,  I'm  dog- 
ganned,  stranger,  ef  they  mayent  (hie)  break  my  neck  and  smash 
my  (hie)  legs  to  eternal  smash  for  five  thousand  dollars,  (hie) 
well  they  may." 

As  for  the  Dutchman,  he  (being  the  soberer  of  the  two,  or, 
perhaps  we  should  rather  say,  the  more  sympathetically  drunk) 
took  a  penitent  view  of  the  matter  ;  and,  like  a  tender-hearted 
railroad  employee  whose  negligence  has  just  assisted  at  the 
smash-up  of  a  few  car-loads,  seemed  inclined  to  condole  with 
our  misfortunes  to  an  extreme  .limit,  for  he  assured  us  : 

M  Dat  he  would  drather  give  five  dollar  of  his  money  dat  he 
make  stage-drivin'  dan  have  dish  ting  happen  ;  dat  he  never 
upset  nobodies  not  more  dan  nine,  may-be  fifteen  times,  and  he 
drive  six  month  ;  but  dat  he  didn't  know  dis  part  of  de  road, 
and  only  drives  for  his  friend  dat  is  shic  mit  de  whisky,  but 
dat  he  never  drunksh  nothin,  himself,  but  takish  some  schnapps 
mit  his  friend  when  tish  cold." 


OLD  MAN  RHYMERS. 


ii 


CHAPTER  IT. 

"  OLD  MAN  RHYMER  "  AND  A  BOONSVILLE  "  HOTEL." 

We  reached  the  town  of  Rocheport,  Mo.,  late  on  the  evening 
of  the  12th,  when  we  were  forthwith  rattled  up  to  what  the 
stage-driver — a  new  specimen  of  the  genus,  who  for  a  wonder 
kept  sober,  called  "  old  man  Rhymer's  tavern,"  of  whose  ex- 
traordinary conveniences  he  had  spoken  in  such  favorable, 
not  to  say  enthusiastic  terms,  that  we  felt  really  curious  to  see 
that  rara  avis,  at  least  in  the  interior  of  Missouri,  "  a  first-rate 
hotel  ;"  but  we  found  to  our  cost  that  in  this,  as  well  as  in  our 
other  Far  Western  travelling  experiences,  the 

"  Distance  lent  enchantment  to  the  view  ;" 

for  even  "  old  man  Rhymer's  "  tavern  proved  upon  a  closer 
acquaintance  to  be  no  better  than  it  ought,  if  half  so  good  ; 
in  fine,  it  was  as  dirty,  ill-kept,  and  unprepossessing  a  village  inn 
as  we  had  yet  encountered  upon  the  road  ;  and  we  very  much 
fear  that  our  loquacious  stage-driver,  in  expatiating  upon  the 
accommodations  of  this  establishment,  had  a  personal  and,  it 
may  be,  pecuniary  interest  in  drumming  customers  into  the 
clutches  of  mine  host.  Mynheer  Rhymer,  his  very  poeti- 
cal name  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding,  appeared  at  the  door 
of  his  "  hostelrie  n  as  we  drove  up,  in  the  shape  of  an  obese, 


48 


THE   "  SHICKEN  "  FIGHT. 


bull-headed,  uncleanly-looking  old  Dutchman,  with  an  oily  voice 
and  a  fat  smile.    His  first  salutation  ran  thus: 

"  Mill  you  hash  supper,  gentelmen  ;  dere  is  no  stage  here,  so 
you  mill  hash  to  stay  all  night." 

Here  was  another  damper  ;  but  after  three  days  and  nights 
of  travel  over  the  very  roughest  of  all  rough  roads  this  side  of 
Jordan  Turnpike,  a  night  in  bed  was  something  "  not  to  be 
sneezed  at."  So  we  gave  into  this  nolens  volens  detention  with 
the  best  grace  possible,  and  supped  on  the  unclean  beast  as  usual. 
Then  came  bed-time,  and  our  couch  a  feather-bed  of  course, 
for  how  could  a  Dutchman  sleep  soundly  upon  straw.  And  if  a 
poor  road-worn  mortal  ever  felt  the  full  force  of  Tom  Hood's 

"  O,  bed  !  bed  !  bed  !  delicious  bed  : 
That  heaven  on  earth  to  a  weary  head, 
Whether  lofty  or  low  its  condition," 

we  were  that  mortal  that  night,  for  as  we  lay  submerged  in 
a  feathery  sea,  we  rolled,  and  tumbled,  and  dreamed  of  dire 
upsets  and  desperate  ruunings-away,  and  then  woke  up  to  bless 
our  stars,  and  enjoy  the  luxury,  as  we  turned  to  sleep  again,  of 
stretching  out  our  cramped-up  legs  without  running  the  risk  of 
breaking  a  neighbor's  shins. 

December  IZth. — Morning,  and  a  late  breakfast,  not  yet  ready. 
Scene. — The  "  bar-room,"  the  principal  actors  being  the  fat  land- 
lord and  ourself,  with  the  loquacious  stage-driver  in  the  back- 
ground.   This  wrangling  dialogue  ensues  : 

We. — Mr.  llhymer,  would  you  have  the  goodness  to  let 
your  servants  give  me  a  bit  of  chicken  for  breakfast.  I  have 
been  ill,  and  Missouri  hog's  meat  seems  to  owe  me  a  grudge,  for 
we  can't  agree. 

He. — Slacken — shicken — mein  Gott — de  shicken  ish  too  big 
to  kill.  Dish  ish  not  de  time  for  de  shicken  ;  dish  ish  de  shea- 
son  for  de  hog. 


CHICKEN  VERSUS  HOG. 


49 


Here  the  loquacious  stage-driver,  whose  feelings  appeared  to 
have  been  deeply  outraged  by  onr  request,  broke  in  with  the 
following  most  unauthorized  observations.  We  shall  take  the 
liberty  to  reduce  the  oaths  to  blanks,  and  thus  diminish  his  com- 
ments by  fifty  per  cent,  at  the  least. 

"  By  the  great-jumping-flat-footed  ,  where  the   

did  yeou  come  from  ?    Yeou  can't  eat  hog-meat,  hey  ?  Yeou're 

delicately  raised — you  air,  by  .    I'll  be   ef  we  hadn't 

better  send  out  and  kill  a  few  patridges  for  yeou — well  we  had, 

by  the  eternal   .    Send  I  may  be  .    Chickens,  hey  ? 

chickens  !" 

Here  the  enthusiastic  driver  halted  for  want  of  breath,  and 
we  embraced  the  opportunity  to  assure  him  that  if  he  would  do 
us  the  favor  to  step  out  and  kill  those  "  patridges  "  we  would 
eat  them  with  the  greatest  pleasure,  whereupon  the  driver  stared, 
and  seemed  really  impressed  with  an  idea  that  we  took  things — 
for  an  Eastern  man — mighty  coolly.  As  for  our  fat  host,  he 
waddled  out,  and  ordered  a  piece  of  turkey's  breast,  fried  brown 
in  fork,  for  our  own  private  use  and  benefit,  on  which  we  break- 
fasted gloriously,  very  much  to  the  amazement  of  our  Virginian, 
who  was  in  the  habit  of  amusing  himself  with  our  very  Jewish 
dislike  to  the  "  entire  animal." 

Upon  finishing  our  repast,  we,  in  company  with  our  fellow- 
passengers,  resolved  ourselves  into  a  "  committee  of  the  whole," 
to  contrive  "  ways  and  means  "  for  getting  on  ;  for  it  was  but 
too  evident  that  our  fat  landlord  was  correct  in  his  assertion, 
that,  so  far  as  "  stages  "  were  concerned,  Smashup,  Breakdown 
&  Co.'s  line  had  at  length  "  given  out  for  good." 

It  was  finally  determined  by  our  passengers,  in  council  assem- 
bled, that  "  old  man  Rhymer  "  should  take  the  responsibility  of 
furnishing  a  suitable  vehicle,  and  as  he  was  the  duly  accredited 
stage-agent  of  Smashup,  Breakdown  &  Co.,  at  Rocheport,  look 
to  those  worthy  gentlemen  for  his  pecuniary  reward — an  ar- 

3 


50 


THE  LUMBER  WAGON". 


rangement,  by-the-way,  which  seemed  to  afford  but  slender  grat- 
ification to  mine  host,  whose  tavern  gained  nothing  by  our  exit. 
But,  overcome  by  our  importunities,  he  finally  saw  fit  to  grunt 
out  an  assent,  and  accordingly  went  rolling  out  to  order  up  the 
necessary  transportation. 

In  half  an  hour's  time,  "  the  stages  ;'  were  reported  ready, 
and  we  once  more  sallied  forth  to  embark  in  whatever  new 
instrument  of  torture  it  might  please  Providence  and  "  old 
man  Rhymer  "  to  bestow  us  in.  And  there  they  were,  sure 
enough  ;  for  one  of  the  stages  alluded  to  was  a  dilapidated 
hack,  which  held  one  male  Yankee,  and  three  ladies  inside,  while 
our  Virginian,  who  had  perched  himself  upon  the  driver's  seat, 
after  a  round  or  two  of  argument  as  to  the  right  of  position, 
more  than  completed  its  complement.  As  for  the  other  vehicle, 
in  which  we  felt  more  particularly  interested,  it  was  nothing 
more  than  an  ordinary  lumber-wagon,  which  we  should  say — 
judging  from  its  odor,  and  inside  cleanliness — had  been  very 
recently  engaged  in  the  transportation  of  manure  ;  or  it  may  be 
that  its  body  had  been  on  detached  service  as  a  hen-roost. 
When  we  came  to  take  our  place,  we  found  the  wagon  already 
filled  up  with  the  Yankees'  luggage,  on  which  the  balance  of 
our  party  had  already  seated  themselves,  in  compliance  with  a 
request  to  "  pile  in,  ef  they  wanted  to  make  Boonsville  that 
day."  So  we  were  fain  to  follow  their  example,  and  scrambled 
up  upon  the  heap  of  trunks,  boxes,  and  bundles,  which  made  up 
the  plunder  of  our  fellow-travellers,  where  we  selected  an  eligible 
seat,  which  means — took  up  our  position  upon  a  leathern  trunk, 
studded  with  large  brass  knobs,  and  lettered  at  either  end  with 
nails  of  a  similar  material.  And  in  this  "  blessed  institution  " 
we  rode  some  eighteen  miles  or  more,  in  a  light,  drizzling  rain, 
and  a  very  wet  overcoat.  So  don't  wonder  if  our  style  of  de- 
scription should  grow  curter  as  we  revive  the  recollections  of 
that  day — for  our  troubles  were  beginning  to  tell  upon  us,  even 


SIX  OLD  BLIND  MARES. 


51 


to  the  suspension  of  our  good-nature.  We  had  not  gone  a  league, 
when  the  driver — a  near  relation,  we  should  say,  of  our  friend  of 
the  "  chickens,"  and  a  surly  brute  into  the  bargain — asked  us  very 
coolly  to  get  out  and  walk,  to  save  old  man  Rhymer's  horses, 
up  a  very  steep  hill,  and  through  such  deep  mud  as  the  world  never 
produced  out  of  the  State  of  Missouri.  We  were  irritated — 
we  regarded  ourself  as  being  humbugged,  swindled,  done  for, 
and  imposed  upon,  and,  in  the  excitement  of  the  moment,  con- 
signed "  old  man  Rhymer,"  his  tavern,  horses,  kith  and  kin,  to  the 
"unmentionable  to  ears  polite,"  with  a  codicil  in  favor  of  stage- 
drivers.  We  intimated,  however,  to  the  driver,  that  if  he  felt  like 
saving  old  man  Rhymer's  horses,  we  should  be  most  happy  to 
handle  the  ribbons,  and  let  him  walk  up  the  hill,  or  for  that 
matter,  all  the  way  to  the  Missouri  river.  His  answer  was  an 
emphatic  one,  and  quite  a  "  laconic  "  in  its  way. 

M  Stranger,  do  yeu  think  I'm  a  dog-gavmed  fule  ?" 

In  answer  to  which,  we  very  frankly  admitted  that  upon  that 
point  we  had  not  yet  made  up  our  mind,  but  when  we  did,  we 
would  let  him  know,  and  immediately  relapsed  into  a  misanthro- 
pic reverie,  which  lasted  until  we  reached  the  banks  of  that 
mighty  tributary  to  the  Great  Father  of  Waters,  which  is  here 
to-day — gone  to-morrow — and  as  generally  uncertain  in  its  ups 
and  downs,  as  that  nigger,  who  is  sure  to  run  away — "  In  point 
of  fact,"  as  Wilkins  Micawber  says,  we  allude  to  the  Missouri. 
As  Boonsville  is  situated  upon  the  opposite  bank,  it  became  ne- 
cessary to  embark  upon  a  ferry-boat,  which  plies  from  the  point 
at  which  we  struck  the  river,  to  the  "  City  levee."  This  boat 
was  a  six-horse  power  affair,  and  we  feel  confident  that  our  cal- 
culation is  correct,  for  in  this  instance,  the  sole  motive  agent  was 
a  circular  tread-mill,  worked  by  half-a-dozen  (we  don't  mean  as 
the  bakers  count),  old  blind  mares,  with  their  bones  so  wonder- 
fully developed,  and  their  bellies  so  singularly  small,  that  you 


52 


COOXSVILLE. 


would  have  sworn  that  life  itself  was  a  burden  to  these  unfortu- 
nate beasts,  who  panted  and  heaved  while  they  walked 

"  Their  weary  round," 

as  if  it  were  part  of  their  business  to  imitate  the  puffing  of  a 
high-pressure  engine,  and  thus  delude  the  beholder  into  a  belief 
that  the  whole  concern  went  by  steam,  and  really  nothing  else. 
But  the  old  proverb  cautions  us  to  "  speak  well  of  the  bridge, 
which  carries  us  safely  over."  So  we  are  bound  to  make  honor- 
able mention  of  the  mares,  for  although  it  was — pull  mares — pull 
Mi'ssouri,  and  a  very  close  thing  at  times,  between  our  "  six- 
horse  power/'  and  the  current,  they  finally,  that  is  to  say,  in 
something  less  than  an  hour's  time,  brought  us  triumphantly  to 
the  Boonsville  landing,  where  we  remounted  our  trunk,  and  was 
conveyed  to  the  City  Hotel,  one  of  the  two  "  blessed  exceptions," 
to  which  we  referred  when  denouncing  Missouri  inns. 

There  was  one  thing  about  this  hotel,  with  which  we  were 
more  particularly  pleased,  and  this  was  the  air  of  home  comfort 
in  its  sleeping  apartments.  What  decent  traveller  is  there, 
who  will  not  sympathize  with  us  when  we  say,  that  it  is  so  grat- 
ifying to  escape  from  the  bar,  or  general  sitting-room,  for,  in  a 
Far  Western  tavern,  these  luxuries,  (?)  are  but  too  frequently 
united,  with  its  foul  odors  and  unprofitable  discourse,  to  such  a 
sanctum  as  was  our  chamber  at  the  City.  Let  us  describe  it  for 
you,  for  it  has  <{  a  place  in  our  memory  "  still.  Imagine,  then,  a 
large,  airy  room  to  begin  with,  which  has  two  heavily-curtained 
windows,  and  a  broad,  open  fire-place,  whose  well-swept  hearth, 
and  high  brass  fenders,  bore  tokens  of  recent  attention  from 
careful  hands.  But  the  fire  1  ah  !  that  was  the  great  success  ; 
you  should  have  seen  it  when  we  came  in  ;  it  wasn't  one  of 
your  poverty-stricken,  just  large-enough  efforts  ;  none  of  your 
single  back-log,  with  one-or-two-sticks-on-top-of-it  affairs,  which 


A  ROARER  OF  A  FIRE. 


53 


might  burn  out,  like  a  three-inch  tavern  candle,  before  you  went 
to  bed  ;  but  a  free-handed,  generous,  rollicking  blaze —  a  roarer 
of  a  fire,  in  fact,  who  was  now  fairly  started,  and  off  upon  a 
spree,  and  being  so,  meant  to  go  it  with  a  rush,  and  crack  every 
log  that  came  in  its  way,  without  reference  to  expense.  It  was 
one  of  those  fires,  too,  that  open  a  man's  heart  ;  for  it  seemed  to 
warm  you  right  through,  morally  and  physically.  You  felt  its 
genial  influence,  the  moment  you  entered  the  chamber  ; — why, 
to  us,  it  almost  appeared  to  talk,  as  we  came  in,  for  it  leaped 
up,  and  danced,  and  uttered  a  roar  of  welcome,  as  if  it  wished 
to  say,  "  How  are  you,  old  fellow  ? — glad  to  see  you — sit  down, 
draw  up  your  chair — extend  your  legs,  and  make  yourself  at 
home."  Our  benison  on  that  fire,  say  we,  and  on  the  man — or 
woman,  perchance,  who  built  it ;  for,  we  repeat  it,  it  was  a  bril- 
liant success — an  undoubted  one — and  the  whole  world  couldn't 
argue  us  into  any  other  belief. 

And  then  there  was  the  bed — the  beds,  we  should  have  said, 
for  there  were  two  of  them — why,  they're  a  paragraph  in  them- 
selves ;  such  beds  !  such 

"  First  class  carriages  of  ease 
To  the  land  of  Nod,  or  where  you  please." 

as  Hood  has  it,  were  surely  never  seen  before  ;  they  made  us 
think  of  Dickens's  old  John  Willet,  and  the  May-pole  Inn  ; 
why,  the  state  couch  of  that  snug  hostelry  is  no  where  by  com- 
parison. You  could  hardly  call  either  of  thera  beds  for  two, 
they  seemed  rather  to  have  been  built  for  three — or  perhaps,  we 
might  say,  with  a  view  to  the  accommodation  of  small  families — 
and,  for  the  matter  of  that,  we  verily  believe  that,  if  Smashup, 
Breakdown  &  Co.,  general  stage-agents,  who  understand  packing, 
had  owned  an  interest  in  the  "  City,"  Smashup  would  have  got 
half-a-dozen  into  each.  They  were,  moreover,  curtained  with  some 
'warm-tinted  fabric,  which  accorded  well  with  the  cheerful  hues 
of  the  carpet  and  window  di  .  pery  ;  and  as  for  sheets  and  pillow- 


54 


OUR  SANCTUM. 


cases,  why,  we  must  refer  the  reader,  for  their  counterpart,  to 
the  linen-presses  of  Dandie  Dinmont's  "  gude  wife/'  at  the  Lid- 
desdale  sheep-farm,  for  a  description  of  which  see  Guy  Manner- 
ing,  fair  ladies,  and  "  when  found,"  follow  up  the  suggestion  of 
Captain  Cuttle,  and  "make  a  note  of  it." 

There  was  a  sofa,  too — a  wonderful  sofa — so  soft,  so  practical, 
and,  best  of  all,  so  old-fashioned ;  and  then  there  were  chairs 
that  seemed  natural,  and,  what  is  more  to  the  purpose,  agreeing 
relatives  of  the  sofa  ;  which  stood  round  the  room  upon  their 
sturdy  legs,  as  if  they  felt  themselves  to  be  a  credit  to  the  estab- 
lishment, and — so  they  were. 

But  stay,  we  mustn't  forget  the  wash-stand.  Not  much  in  a 
wash-stand,  hey  ?  Why,  you  were  never  more  mistaken  in  your 
life,  my  good  reader  !  Nothing  ?  pooh,  nonsense  !  why,  there's 
everything  in  a  wash-stand  1  Think  of  the  dimpled  hands,  that 
lave  their  tiny  fingers  over  them  sometimes,  and  the  bright 
morning  faces,  that  catch  their  first  glimpse  of  sunshine  from 
the  reflection  of  their  own  optics  in  the  basin,  and  then,  we 
won't  say  a  word,  you  know,  about  toilette  mysteries.  But 
believe  in  the  wash-stand,  or  not,  as  you  choose,  that  doesn't 
alter  the  fact  that  our  wash-stand  was  just  the  thing  ;  a  big, 
overgrown,  apoplectic  one,  of  real  Spanish  mahogany,  turned 
black  with  age  ;  and  now  throw  in  a  couple  of  huge,  wide- 
mouthed,  and  scrupulously  clean,  white  pitchers,  filled  with  un- 
exceptionable water,  with  quaint-looking  accompaniments  to 
match,  and  a  long  mahogany  rack,  hung  with  towels,  white  as 
the  driven  snow,  and  we  will  let  our  sketch  of  a  comfortable  in- 
terior go  from  us  without  further  touching,  save  this — if  you 
are  hard  to  move,  and  don't  believe  in  its  truthfulness,  just  try 
it  for  yourself,  after  four  days  and  nights  of  winter  staging  in 
the  Far  West,  and  we  will  "  eat  our  head,"  a  la  Grim  wig,  upon 
the  result  of  your  decision. 

The  morning  of  the  14th,  found  us,  so  far  as  a  conveyance 


ANOTHER  DETAINER. 


55 


was  concerned,  worse  off,  if  anything,  than  we  had  been  at 
Rocheport  :  for  the  stage  line  had  again  "given  out,"  and  the 
agent  would  not  even  procure  a  wagon  to  take  its  place  ;  we 
tried  entreaty,  flattery,  and  eveu  threats,  but  it  was  all  in  vain, 
we  might  as  well  have  talked  to  the  Missouri  ;  the  stages  were 
all  up  the  couutry,  or  all  down  ;  he  had  none  to  give  us  ;  he 
might  have  a  stage  next  day,  or  he  might  not  for  a  week  ;  in 
fact,  our  getting  on  was,  so  far  as  his  assistance  went,  quite  a 
matter  of  iQioien  sabe  ? 

What  was  to  be  done  ?  The  Kansas  War  would  be  getting 
cold — the  Herald  wouldn't  have  the  news  !  It  was  clearly  our 
duty  to  push  on  ;  we  accordingly  consulted  with  our  Virginian,  • 
who  had  a  wife  and  youngsters  near  Lexington  (our  next  prin- 
cipal stopping  place,  en  route),  from  whom  he  had  been  for  some 
time  separated.  We  were,  therefore,  but  from  widely  differing 
causes,  most  anxious  to  proceed.  "  I  have  it,"  cried  he,  after 
considerable  reflection,  "  I  have  just  learned  that  there  are  some 
empty  hacks  going  back  to  Lexington,  so  we  will  leave  the 
stage-agents  to  their  devices,  by  cutting  them  dead,  and  hiring 
our  own  conveyance.  .  . 

And  to  this  proposition  we  acceded,  for  although,  we  did  not 
consider  it  pecuniarily  to  our  advantage  to  employ  a  private 
conveyance,  to  transport  us  over  a  road  which  we  had  already 
paid  ten  cents  per  mile,  for  the  privilege  of  traversing,  we  felt 
compelled  to  adopt  the  expedient,  as  the  only  one  which  seemed 
calculated  to  extricate  us  from  the  annoyances  of  a  vexatious 
delay.  So  we  sallied  forth  with  the  Virginian,  and  sought  out 
the  senior  hack-driver,  a  negro,  black  as  the  ace  of  spades  (his 
junior  being  a  white  man),  with  whom  we  entered  into  a  verbal 
contract  forthwith,  wherein  it  was  stipulated,  that  for  a  certain 
consideration,  to  be  by  us  "  the  party  of  the  first  part,"  duly 
paid,  he,  Nigger  Jim,  as  "  the  party  of  the  second  part,"  should 
undertake  to  bring  us,  bag  and  baggage,  in  safety,  to  Lexington, 


56 


NIGGER  JIM. 


the  next  "  principal  city  "  upon  our  route,  by  nightfall  of  the 

ensuing  day. 

But  ere  we  leave  Boonsville,  upon  paper,  let  us,  to  do  all  things 
properly  and  in  order,  make  a  few  extracts  (in  another  chap- 
ter), from  a  "letter  home,"  which  we  dated  from  our  cosy 
chamber  at  the  "  City  Hotel." 


A  VERY  OLD  SOLDIER. 


51 


CHAPTER  V 

FROM  OUR  CORRESPONDENT  EN  ROUTE. 

Boonsyille,  Mo.,  Thursday,  December  13th,  1855. — We  remem- 
ber once,  ere  we  "  put  our  sword  upon  the  peace  establishment," 
and  our  tongue,  or — what  comes  to  the  same  thing,  with  an 
author — our  pen,  "upon  the  civil  list" — or  in  plainer  language, 
when  we  used  to  do  tactics  in  the  army  of  our  ungrateful  Uncle 
Sam — to  have  heard  one  of  our  men — a  very  old  soldier — from 
the  Emerald  Isle,  of  course  (for  who  doesn't  know  that  the 
"regulars"  of  Native  American  Uncle  Sam  are  for  the  most 
part  "  demmed  furriners),"  close  some  unbelievable  yarn  which 
he  had  been  spinning  for  the  edification  of  a  newly-joined  batch 
of  recruits,  with  this  pithy  sentence  : 

"  Yis,  gintlemeu,  av  the  littel  adviutures  that  have  happened 
to  me,  in  my  lifetime,  an'  more  perticularly  since  I've  bin  a  solger- 
in',  was  to  be  put  inter  a  book,  it's  jist  my  imprision  that  they'd 
fill  about  five  hundred  family  Bibles  in  the  smallist  kind  of  prent." 

And  so,  in  good  truth,  may  we  speak  of  our  sufferings,  since 
your  correspondent  and  his  carpet-bag,  got  into  the  hands  of 
that  most  atrocious  of  humbugs — the  Smashup  Stage  Company. 

(For  the  subject-matter  of  a  hiatus  which  occurs  here,  we 

must  refer  the  reader  to  our  inklings  of  miseries  by  the  way, 

already  recorded.) 

*       *        *        *        *        *        *  ** 

And  now,  having  told  you  of  our  troubles,  we  think  that  you 


58 


OUR  POSSIBLE  OBITUARY. 


must  allow,  that  in  our  pursuit  of  knowledge  under  difficulties, 
in  your  behalf,  we  are  furnishing  you  with  proofs  which  ought  to 
set  us  up  for  ever  in  your  estimation,  for  though  we  do  everything 
upon  the  square,  and  strive  to  work  by  the  golden  rule,  we  may 
even  yet  be  leaded  by  some  Border  Ruffian,  or  enthusiastic  Free 
Soiler,  in  which  case  please  head  our  obituary  with — 

OF  KANSAS  AND  A  MISSOURI  STAGE  ROUTE^ 

There,  don't  be  angry  with  us  for  trying  to  be  funny.  It's 
no  small  effort,  under  existing  circumstances,  we  can  assure  you, 
for  really,  our  understanding — our  physical  one  we  mean — has 
been  damaged  to  so  great  an  extent,  within  the  last  four  and 
twenty  hours,  that  we  shouldn't  even  like  to  sit  upon  a  jury. 

(We  would  here  refer  the  reader  to  our  lumber-wagon  experi- 
ences from  Rocheport,  to  fill  another  break.) 

********* 

But  enough  of  egotism,  and  now  for  Kansas,  whose  "Free  State 
War "  seems  to  resemble  the  yellow  fever  in  New  Orleans,  in 
this — that,  as  you  approach  more  closely  to  the  scene  of  its  active 
operations,  the  agent  which  does  the  mischief  is  less  talked 
about.  Such,  at  least,  has  been  our  experience  in  Kansas  news- 
hunting,  so  far,  for  in  answer  to  our  numerous  queries,  the  Mis- 
sourians  give  one  stereotyped  reply,  running  thus  : 

"  We  don't  kear  much  about  it,  stranger,  but  ef  our  boys  go 
up  to  Lawrence,  I  hope  they'll  kill  out  those  dog-gauned  Aboli- 
tionists.   And  I  jest  expect  they  will." 

Indeed  we  had  almost  begun  to  despair  of  gaining  any  intelli- 
gence at  all,  until  actually  upon  the  spot,  in  propria  persona, 
when  in  comes  the  stage  from  Westport,  with  a  whole  grist 
"of  live  Yankees,"  every  "mother's  son  of  them"  being  Free 
State  men — if  nothing  stronger — and  all  fresh  from  the  seat  of 
war.    What  they  were  doing  there  is  probably  nobody's  busi- 


PUMPING  A  DOWN-EASTER. 


59 


ness  but  their  own.  Well,  we  have  seen  these  worthies — talked 
with  them — " pumped"  them,  if  a  Yankee  can  be  "pumped" — 
tried  to  separate  a  mountain  of  lies  from  its  mole-hill  foundation 
of  truth,  and  have  gained  the  following  : — 

As  this  intelligence  has  been  superseded  by  more  reliable 
testimony,  which  we  afterwards  collected  upon  the  spot,  we  will 
spare  the  reader  a  reiteration  of  our  news  items,  which,  indeed, 
were,  at  that  early  date,  summed  up  in  the  information  that,  so 
far  as  Lawrence  was  concerned,  the  "  pomp,  and  pride,  and  cir- 
cumstance of  glorious  war,"  had  taken  up  its  nunc  dimittis,  or, 
in  a  military  phrase,  its  "  line  of  march  "  for  other  regions,  leav- 
ing both  sides  victorious,  and  nobody  satisfied  with  that  some- 
what extraordinary  result. 

********** 

We  have  the  following  statements  from  an  Abolitionist,  who, 
as  we  have  every  reason  to  believe,  took  an  active,  if  not  violent 
part  in  the  troubles  at  Lawrence  ;  we  suppressed  his  name  at 
the  time,  because  of  our  promise  to  do  so,  for  our  informant 
seemed  in  mortal  fear  of  tar  and  feathers.  So  agitated  was  he 
in  fact,  that  we  verily  believe  the  nightmare  herself  could  have 
visited  him  only  in  the  shape  of  a  pro-slavery  jack-ass,  with 
bowie-knife  legs,  and  a  revolving  tail.  But  to  return — he  watch- 
ed us  as  we  were  "  takin'  notes,"  and  hearing  that  we  really 
meant  to  "prent  em,"  he  beckoned  us  aside,  and  very  cautiously 
proceeded  to  open  up  his  version  of  the  "  affairs  in  Kansas,"  to 
which  we  were  all  attention  ;  but  it  is  no  more  than  right  to  say 
that  our  gentleman  mistook  us  for  a  correspondent  of  the  Blank, 
a  paper,  whose  proclivities  are  avowedly  Free  Soil,  or  it  is  just 
possible  that  he  might  have  been  a  little  less  communicative  ;  at 
all  events,  he  certainly  regarded  us  as  "a  friend  and  brother" 
for  he  gave  our  hand  a  peculiar  grasp,  which,  as  we  don't  belong 
to  any  secret  societies,  save  the  Good  Fellows,  and  others  of 
that  genus,  we  are  free  to  confess  we  didn't  understand  ;  but 


1 


60  A  CUTE   YANKEE  TEICK. 

remembering  that  all  stratagems  are  fair  in  love  and  war,  we 
could  not  see  why  it  should  not  be  the  same  as  regards  the  ac- 
quisition of  newspaper  intelligence,  so  we  squeezed  back  as 
vaguely  as  we  conveniently  could,  which  called  forth  another 
telegraphic  pressure  from  our  friend,  who  looked  mysterious, 
made  signs  of  caution,  drew  us  outside  the  door,  said  something 
about  pro-slavery  men  being  pugnacious,  and  having  sharp  ears, 
and  finally,  muttered  something  between  his  teeth  about  its 
being  44  all  right."  We  had  our  private  suspicions  that  our 
friend  might  find  it  all  wrong,  but  didn't  see  fit  to  express  them. 

(Our  new  acquaintance  then  proceeded  to  enlighten  us  upon 
various  points,  which,  for  reasons  already  given,  would  be  unin- 
teresting, if  recapitulated  here  ;  there  was,  however,  one  state- 
ment made,  which  we  will  chronicle  as  worth  reading.) 

Our  informant  tells  us,  that  the  so-called  settlement  of  the 
difficulties  at  Lawrence,  between  the  Free  State  and  Pro-slavery 
leaders,  was,  on  the  part  of  the  Free  State  people,  nothing  more 
than  a  44  cute  Yankee  trick,"  amounting  simply  to  this — that 
the  citizens  of  Lawrence,  after  making  a  show  of  resistance, 
until  they  found  that  they  might  be  overpowered  by  a  superior 
force,  avoided  a  fight,  by  intimating  to  Governor  Shannon  that 
they  were  willing  to  submit  themselves  to  the  laws,  and  permit 
the  sheriff  of  Douglas  County  to  arrest  the  persons  against  whom 
he  held  writs,  and  whom  they  had  hitherto  been  harboring — a 
settlement  was  accordingly  made,  but  not  until  the  fugitives  in 
question  had  been  warned  by  the  Free  State  party,  and  allowed 
time  to  make  good  their  escape,  which  they  were  not  slow  to  do. 

"But,"  queried  we,  "are  the  Lawrence  people  going  to  back 
down,  and  give  it  up  so — won't  they  try  it  again  ?" 

44  They're  bound  to,"  was  the  reply,  and  so  our  conference 
ended.  Upon  parting  with  us,  our  mysterious  little  friend  de- 
sired, as  a  particular  favor  to  himself,  that  we  should  state,  in 
case  any  inquiries  were  made,  concerning  him,  that  we  had 


A   FRIEND  AND  BROTHER. 


61 


kDOwn  him  in  Louisville,  Ky.,  from  whence,  as  we  afterwards 
discovered,  upon  reference  to  the  record  of  the  hotel,  he  had 
seen  fit  to  register  himself.  "  My  real  name,"  said  he,  "is  S. 
N.  W***,  and  I  am  a  prominent  Free  State  man  in  Law- 
rence ;  but,  for  Heaven's  sake,  don't  breathe  my  name  here, 
it's  as  much  as  my  life's  worth."  As  we  didn't  want  to 
place  Mr.  W***  life  in  danger  (in  case  the  Missourians  might 
take  it  into  their  heads  that  he  was  worth  killing),  we  have 
kept  these  matters  to  ourself,  even  till  now.  Oh,  we  had 
almost  forgotten  to  say,  that  little  W*** — for  he  was  a  little 
man,  and  not  over  handsome  at  that — seemed  very  anxious  that 
we  should  make  the  acquaintance  of  some  of  the  prominent 
Free  Soilers  in  Lawrence,  or,  as  the  Yankees  pronounce  it — 
Zar-ence — to  which  we  assented,  as  we  were  sincerely  desiro^es 
of  information,  and  didn't  care  from  what  source  it  came,  black, 
white,  or  grey,  for  be  it  remembered,  that  we  were  after  facts — 
facts  of  the  stern  hard-shell  kind,  for  the  Kansas  news  are  as 
grist  to  our  pen  and  ink  mill,  and  we  would  even  have  coveted 
"a  free  fight,"  if  we  could  have  been  "counted  out,"  for  the 
sake  of  adding  to  our  items. 

And  now,  ere  we  close  this  long-winded  epistle — for  the  can- 
dle is  flickering  in  its  socket,  and  our  watch  indicates  that  witch- 
ing hour,  when 

"  Churchyards  yawn,"  and  drowsy  watchmen  sleep — 

let  us  send  you  a  veritable  narrative,  which  we  have  learned 
from  the  lips  of  a  New  Yorker  (hailing  from  Delaware  County), 
who  got  it  upon  the  spot.  And  we  will  here  take  the 
liberty  of  dedicating  this  yarn  to  the  ultra-Emancipationists  in 
general,  with  a  reservation  in  favor  of  Mistress  Blank  (no 
relation  to  our  Blanks  up  to  date,  by  the  way),  if  that  dis- 
tinguished authoress  should  feel  inclined  to  add  an  extra  Key 
to  the  Uncle  Tommia.  It  may  be  called — A  Black  Diamond — 
The  Gem  of  the  Kansas  Season. 


62 


M  STER  MAG  EE'S  NIGGER. 


"  It  would  appear,  that  among  the  Pro-Slavery  warriors,  who 
besieged  the  far-famed  fortifications  of  Lawrence,  there  was  a 
certain  good  man,  and  true — one  Mister  Magee,  from  Clay 
County,  Mo.,  or  thereabouts  (everybody  comes  from  counties 
at  the  West).  Now  Mister  Magee  owned  a  "  nigger,"  who  had 
worked  in  the  yoke  of  slavery,  until  it  ought  to  have  scarified 
his  shoulders,  but  had  not.  Of  the  precise  baptismal  designa- 
tion of  Mister  Magee's  nigger  we  are  unaware,  but,  for  con- 
venience sake,  we  will  presume  his  cognomen  to  have  been  Caesar 
— Julius  Caesar,  if  you  please — or,  if  you  prefer  it — Augustus. 
And  our  Caesar  was  evidently  no  coward,  but  rather  a  valiant 
man-of-war,  who,  like  Mr.  Norval, 

"  JIad  heard  of  battles;" 

in  short,  he  was  "  a  fighting  darkey,"  aud  accordingly  accom- 
panied his  master  to  prove,  by  doughty  deeds,  that  a  "  colored 
pusson "  has  his  rights  and  won't  be  freed  without  his  consent 
being  previously  obtained,  "  anyhow  you  can  fix  it."  Now,  it 
so  happened  that  Caesar,  while  serving  in  the  Wakarusa  camp,  was 
charged  with  the  performance  of  some  scouting  duty,  in  the 
execution  of  which  he  discovered  an  Abolitionist  lurking  about 
his  post.  Caesar  hailed  him,  and  inquired  into  his  business 
there.  The  Abolitionist  gave  replies  which  Caesar  regarded  as 
being  highly  unsatisfactory.  The  Pro-Slavery  darkey  forthwith 
advanced  upon  this  philanthropic  upholder  of  human  rights  with 
an  energy  which,  while  it  spoke  volumes  for  his  party  zeal,  said 
but  very  little  for  his  pacific  intentions.  The  pale-face  turned 
and  fled — it  is  not  even  on  record  that  he  lingered  to  say — 
Et  tii  Brute"" — or,  as  it  is  matrimonially  translated — "and 
you  too,  you  brute."  Caesar  was  swift  of  foot,  as  well  as  valor- 
ous of  heart ;  he  darted  forward  in  pursuit.  The  white  man 
quickened  his  pace,  but  Caesar  put  his  long  heels  down  as  if  he 
were  after  a  runaway  locomotive,  and  ere  long  overhauled  the 


FIGHTING  C^SAR. 


panting  fugitive,  who  "  surrendered  at  discretion,"  at  the  same 
time  begging  for  his  life,  and  delivering  upr  as  an  evidence  of  his 
submission  (in  compliance  with  Caesar's  particular  request),  a 
Sharp's  rifle,  a  brace  of  Colt's  revolvers,  and  an  improved 
bowie-knife,  with  which  he  had  encumbered  himself.  Our  narra- 
tor goes  on  to  state  that  Caesar  "  toted  "  the  fellow  into  the 
"Wakarusa  camp,  and  then  and  there  delivered  up  his  prisoner 
and  the  spoils,  to  the  manifest  amusement  of  the  Pro-Slavery 
men,  and  the  no  slight  increase  of  the  military  reputation  of 
Fighting  Caesar.  It  is  now  generally  supposed  in  Clay  County 
(adds  our  informant),  that  a  "  white  man  may  be  as  good  as  a 
nigger,"  under  favorable  circumstances. 

And  now,  farewell  ;  we  have  two  or  three  nights  more  of 
staging  before  us,  from  which  may  the  Fates  send  us  a  safe  de- 
liverance, for  it  is  "  raining  like  blazes  f  the  country  is  all  afloat, 
the  rivers  up,  and  the  bridges  down,  and  your  "  war  corres- 
pondent "  given  out  to  such  a  degree,  that,  like  a  certain  dis- 
tinguished personage,  he  may  be  said  to  sit  uneasily  in  his  seat. 

We  shall  write  you  soon,  from  somewhere;  but  we  are  going 
to  have  a  row  with  the  stage-agent  to-morrow,  and  there's  no 
telling  what  may  come  of  it  ;  he  may  be  too  much  for  us  ;  we 
anathematized  a  driver  yesterday — result — stage  upset,  accident- 
ally, of  course,  just  half-an-hour  afterwards. 

Truly  yours,  &c, 

Hiawatha. 


64 


A   FRESH  START. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

OUR  VIRGINIAN  FRIEND  ON  SLAVERY. 

But  let  us  get  back  to  Boonsville  ;  to  our  private  hack,  and 
the  morning  of  December  14th.  We  were  all  ready  to  start — 
bill  paid  ;  porter  satisfied  ;  landlord  smiling  benignantlj  ;  Nig- 
ger Jim  handled  the  reins  ;  and  Virginia  (as  I  shall  henceforth 
call  him),  and  "  our  correspondent,"  made  ourselves  comfortable 
upon  the  back  seat,  the  front,  for  we  were  the  only  passengers, 
being  already  occupied  by  our  carpet-bags. 

As  we  drove  on,  until  nightfall,  over  a  most  abominable  road, 
we  whiled  away  the  hours  by  chatting  with  "  Virginia,"  whom 
we  had  already  discovered  to  be  a  sensible,  well-informed,  and 
high-bred  gentleman,  of  the  old-fashioned  Southern  school. 
Among  other  matters,  we  discussed  that  much-vexed  theme,  the 
slavery  question,  but  more  particularly  as  to  the  effect  of  this 
institution  upon  the  welfare  of  the  slave  ;  and  upon  this  point, 
we  found  our  friend  to  be  excellently  posted,  for  he  was,  himself, 
a  considerable  slave-holder,  owning  a  large  farm,  and  some 
eighty  negroes,  in  the  vicinity  of  Lexington,  Mo.,  of  whom,  not 
more  than  thirty,  as  he  assured  us,  really  paid  for  their  keeping. 

We  are  indebted  to  V  Virginia "  for  much  valuable  informa- 
tion in  regard  to  the  mode  of  life,  habits,  morals  and  general 
management  of  slaves,  as  at  present  existing  in  Missouri  ;  and 
we  very  much  regret  that  our  business  engagements  prevented 
us  from  accepting  an  invitation,  which  was  most  kindly  ten- 


A  SOUTHERNER  ON  SLAVERY. 


65 


dered,  to  visit  his  plantation  and  take  up  our  abode  at  his  resi- 
dence, where  we  could  investigate  the  subject  at  our  ease,  enjoy 
some  good  shooting,  and  see  negro  slavery,  not  as  ^Northern  fana- 
tics would  paint  the  picture,  but  as  it  really  is  to  be  found  in 
many  a  Southern  home,  where  the  relation  between  the  master 
and  his  slave  is,  in  nine  instances  out  of  ten,  a  more  kindly 
one  than  that  which  exists  between  the  Eastern  manufacturer 
and  his  sickly,  pale-faced  operative. 

And  now  we  must  ask  the  reader's  indulgent  criticism  ;  for 
it  is  no  easy  task,  after  an  interval  of  weeks,  to  select  from 
a  mass  of  facts,  stated  in  a  rambling  and  oftentimes  interrupted 
conversation,  just  such  material  as  would  be  most  interesting 
to  the  inquirer.  We  must,  therefore,  make  the  circumstances 
under  which  these  things  were  told  to  us  our  best  a'pology  for 
the  disjointed  style  in  which  we  are  compelled  to  present  them 
But  let  them  tell  their  own  story. 

Slave  women  differ  very  much  in  their  affection  for  theii 
children  ;  some  exhibit  great  solicitude  for  the  welfare  of  their 
offspring,  while  others  seem  perfectly  reckless  as  to  their  fate. 
The  old  women  are,  for  the  most  part,  employed  in  looking  after 
the  children  and  cabins  during  the  absence  of  the  negroes  in  the 
field  ;  this  is  the  more  necessary,  as  the  young  darkeys  are  won- 
derfully mischievous,  as  much  so  as  juvenile  monkeys  ;  indeed, 
were  they  left  to  themselves  they  would  be  quite  as  likely  to 
amuse  an  idle  hour  by  burning  down  the  "  old  folks'  cabin,"  as 
in  any  less  incendiary  way.  When  the  youngsters  get  large 
enough,  they  are  frequently  taken  into  the  planter's  house,  where 
they  do  light  work,  stuff  themselves  with  eatables,  and,  in  many 
instances,  get  petted  until  they  become  completely  spoiled. 

Singular  as  it  may  appear,  we  find  it  very  difficult  to  obtain 
good  house-servants  ;  for  the  negro  seems  better  fitted  for  out- 
door employment.  This  is  even  the  case  with  those  who  are 
brought  up  in  our  houses,  for  as  they  approach  the  age  of 


66 


SLAVE  MARRIAGES. 


fifteen  or  sixteen  years,  they  grow  restless  and  discontented,  anc1 
begin  to  envy  what  they  consider  the  greater  amount  of  free- 
dom which  falls  to  the  share  of  the  field-hands,  who  have  their 
stated  and  regular  hours  for  work,  and  are,  therefore,  at  liberty, 
when  their  labor  is  done,  to  enjoy  themselves,  or,  as  a  negro 
says,  "joy  themselves"  in  any  way  they  please. 

We  give  our  hands,  both  male  and  female,  two  full  suits 
of  clothes  per  annum,  with  under-clothing  in  proportion ;  these 
suits  are  made  of  a  coarse,  but  very  warm  and  durable  fabric, 
which  costs  between  one  and  two  dollars  per  yard.  When 
one  of  our  slaves  desires  to  marry,  he  goes  to  his  master,  con- 
fesses the  "  soft  impeachment,"  and  asks  his  consent.  If  the 
object  of  his  adoration  belongs  to  another  plantation,  the  mas- 
ter of  the  girl  is  waited  upon  for  the  same  purpose.  These 
requests  are  scarcely  ever  refused.  As  the  negro  has  a  great 
idea  of  doing  things  like  "  quality  folks,"  their  weddings  are 
state  occasions,  where  Cato  and  Pomp  are  expected  to  support 
their  dignity  by  behaving  with  the  utmost  decorum  ;  while  high- 
bred colored  ladies  show  their  "  manners"  to  the  fullest  extent  ; 
and  though  there  be  no  presentation  of  plate  at  the  nuptial 
feast,  the  bridal  gifts  are,  nevertheless,  of  a  very  substantia! 
kind  ;  for.  beside  the  remembrances  of  their  companions,  it  is 
usual  for  the  planter  to  present  the  newly-married  pair  with  a 
four-poster  and  mattress,  or  it  may  be  a  new  brass  kettle  with 
which  to  set  up  house-keeping.  The  slave  has  also  his  little 
garden,  which  he  may  till  with  self-interest  ;  as  an  incentive, 
the  proceeds  are  his  own,  to  be  disposed  of  as  he  thinks  proper. 
He  is  also  permitted  to  keep  a  hog,  and,  if  he  desires  to  do 
so,  chickens.  There  is,  probably,  no  slave  who  might  not  pur- 
chase his  freedom,  if  he  were  so  inclined  and  would  exert  him- 
self sufficiently  to  obtain  the  requisite  means  (for  we  are  told 
that  when  such  an  intimation  is  made  to  the  master,  he 
is  generally  willing  to  value  his  servant  at  a  much  lower  rate 


UNCLE  TOM. 


67 


than  he  would  hold  him  at  in  negotiating  with  another 
party). 

"  The  negroes  are  usually  particular  in  the  moral  training  of 
their  children.  A  sort  of  school  was  established  upon  my 
place,  and  kept  up  for  some  little  time  by  an  old  negro  of  mine, 
quite  an  '  Uncle  Tom '  in  his  way,  who  seemed  to  take  great 
pleasure  in  attempting  to  teach  the  slave  children,  and  for  that 
matter,  their  parents,  to  read  and  write  ;  but  it  was  labor  thrown 
away,  for  though  his  pupils  were  zealous  enough  in  undertaking 
their  education,  their  literary  courage  soon  oozed  out,  for  your 
true  African  is  anything  but  a  book-worm.  As  regards  tempera- 
ment and  disposition,  my  negroes  were  formerly  very  gay; 
they  were  at  it  from  morning  till  night  ;  the  fiddle  and  the  banjo 
made  constant  music  in  the  quarters,  dancing  was  the  rage,  and 
a  '  hoe-down  '  just  the  thing.  But 

♦  A  change  came  o'er  the  spirit  of  their  dream,' 

they  took  a  religious  turn,  and  my  Uncle  Tom  got  up  1  a 
revival/  which  was  what  the  preachers  call  1  most  abundantly 
blessed.'  The  sable  converts  were  numerous,  and,  as  they  would 
do  nothing  by  halves,  while  on  the  road  to  salvation,  the  fiddle 
was  tabooed — the  banjo  put  away — dancing  interdicted,  and  even 
the  innocent  'hoe-down'  voted  a  child  of  '  de  debble,'  and  a 
'  mighty  sure '  trap,  to  '  catch  de  sinful  nigger's  soul.'  Since 
then  the  excitement  has  cooled  down,  and,  as  in  similar  cases 
among  more  refined  people,  many  of  the  '  renewed,'  have 
'  slipped  back.'  But  the  influence  of  the  event,  combined  with 
the  continual  admonitions  of  my  Uncle  Tom,  is  still  sufficient 
to  restrain  them  from  any  extraordinary  exhibition  of  their 
animal  spirits.  So  we  continue  to  miss  their  dancing,  and 
instead  of  a  harvest-song,  get  Old  Hundred  most  dolefully  lined 
out. 

u  The  negroes,  for  the  most  part,  adopt  the  family  name  of  their 


68 


ALL  ABOUT  THE  NIGGERS. 


respective  masters,  but  the  given  name,  or,  more  frequently,  an 
abbreviation  of  it,  is  their  only  practical  designation.  In  spite 
of  all  that  has  been  said  and  written  to  the  contrary,  the  negro 
women  are  generally  chaste,  and  faithful  to  their  lords.  I  have 
but  one  family  upon  my  plantation  whose  women  bear  a  doubtful 
character  in  this  respect,  and  they  are  looked  down  upon  aud 
despised  by  their  fellows.  If  one  of  my  negroes  falls  sick,  he 
sends  word  to  the  house,  when  my  wife  usually  goes  down  to 
visit  the  patient,  and  if  it  be  a  simple  matter,  within  the  reach 
of  our  family  medicine-chest,  she  prescribes,  and  treats  the  case 
herself.  But  if  the  symptoms  are  violent,  or,  the  disease 
assume  a  graver  character,  we  send  immediately  for  a  physician, 
the  best  that  can  be  obtained.  A  negro's  hopefulness  is 
small.  When  ill,  they  lose  much  of  their  elasticity  of  mind, 
are  low-spirited,  highly  superstitious,  and  quite  ready  to 
imagine  that  they  are  certainly  'going  to  die.'  Our  white 
children  are  very  fond  of  playing  with  the  negro  boys,  more  so, 
I  think,  than  with  those  of  their  own  color.  I  have  a  couple 
of  youngsters,  who  sometimes  get  into  trouble  with  their  colored 
playmates  ;  on  these  occasions  it  very  frequently  happens  that) 
my  boys  are  thrown  down,  and  sometimes  get  a  sound  thrashing 
from  their  sable  companions,  the  children  of  my  slaves,  but, 
unless  they  have  been  manifestly  imposed  upon,  I  never  inter- 
fere, but  let  them  fight  out  their  own  battles. 

"  As  regards  our  method  of  slave  discipline  the  whip  is  but  sel- 
dom resorted  to,  and  then  only  in  extreme  cases.  An  increase  of 
labor,  or  a  deprivation  of  some  customary  privilege,  will  usually 
suffice  to  bring  the  offender  to  his  senses.  A  negro  rarely 
suffers  for  an  offence  which  he  has  not  committed,  for  though 
the  circumstantial  evidence  against  him  be  ever  so  strong, 
when  it  comes  to  the  moment  of  punishment,  one  of  your  old 
darkeys,  of  known  character  and  discretion,  will  generally  step 
out  with  some  such  expostulation  as  this : 


MISS  DINAH.  69 

I  "  '  Massa  John,  what  you  gwyne  whip  dat  nigga  for  ?  he  no 
lo  it.    More  like  to  be  dat  lying  nigga,  Pete,  Massa,'  &c. 

"  Christmas  and  1  Christmas  week/  are  the  negro's  great  holi- 
lays.  They  have  other  'gala  days,'  but  the  anniversary  of  our 
Saviour's  nativity,  is  the  '  festival '  par  excellence,  of  the  slave, 
i  "  I  have  quite  a  good-looking  young  negro  girl,  some  sixteen 
ears  of  age,  who  has  been  brought  up  as  a  house-servant  in  my 
amily,  and  it  is  a  matter  of  no  little  amusement  to  my  wife  and 
elf,  to  watch  this  sable  damsel  getting  through  the  difficulties 

her  first  flirtation  ;  for  she  has  a  lover,  a  young  fellow  from 
,  neighboring  plantation,  as  black  as  black  can  be,  who  drops 
ato  our  kitchen  on  Sunday  evenings  to  '  hab  de  felicity  to  pay 
is  respects  to  Miss  Dinah,'  but  Miss  Dinah  is  very  modest, 
nd  prefers  sending  for  some  young  colored  girl  about  her  own 
ge,  who  '  plays  propriety,'  and  assists  her  in  entertaining 
iMister  Tom.' " 

And  now,  we  have  given  the  subject  matter,  if  not  something 
,iore,  of  our  talk  with  the  Virginian. 

Supper  time  brought  us  to  Marshall,  where  we  halted  for  the 
,ight,  after  accomplishing  about  half  the  journey  to  Lexington, 
fhe  following  is  an  extract  from  our  "journal  letter,"  of  that 
ay: 

Marshall,  Saline  Co.,  Mo.,  Deo.  14. 

We  have  progressed,  since  writing  you  from  Boonsville,  some 
arty  miles  upon  our  way,  over  such  roads  as  no  Christian  ever 
reamed  of  out  of  the  Far-Western  country,  where  every  little 
branch  "  is  a  creek,  and  every  creek  a  swollen  river.  Vehicles 
re  detained,  horses  killed,  and  passengers  indulge  in  the  use  of 
trong  expressions,  until  the  voyageur  begins  to  suspect,  that  if 
job  himself,  of  much  enduring  memory,  had  been  sent  (instead 
I  If  being  afflicted  with  boils,  and  a  wife),  to  traverse,  with 
lia  better  half  for  a  blister,  the  stage  routes  of  the  'Missouri 


70 


A  LOG  CABIN  INTERIOR. 


bottom, "  he  would  have  knocked  under  before  the  first  change 
of  horses. 

And  apropos  to  the  roads,  we  give  our  forethought  credit,  for, 
had  we  trusted  to  that  "  through  ticket,"  of  Smashup's,  we 
would  have  been  in  Boonsville  at  this  present  writing,  but  being 
enterprising,  we  are  here  ;  yet  the  exertion  has  cost  us  some- 
thing withal,  for  a  long  day's  travel  in  an  open  hack,  with  De- 
cember's icy  wind  whistling  in  one's  teeth,  is  a  sorry  joke,  as  our 
half-frozen  limbs  can  testify. 

And  now,  could  you  look  in  upon  us,  you  would  echo  the 
old  saw,  which  tells  us,  that  "  one  half  the  world  don't  know  how 
the  other  half  live."  To  locate  ourself,  then,  let  us  give  you  an 
unvarnished  description  of  the  very  primitive  apartment  in  which 
we  are  now  writing.  It  is  the  best,  and  almost  the  only  room  of  a 
two-story  "  hotel,"  log-cabin  ;  a  huge  fire  of  Missouri  coal  blazes 
upon  the  hearth  (the  only  cheerful-looking  thing  in  the  estab- 
lishment); the  furniture  consists  of  a  large  double-bed,  of  the 
old-fashioned,  short-legged,  four-poster  breed,  which  fills  up  one 
corner  of  the  room,  and  at  present  accommodates  an  almost  sober 
stage-driver  (who  has  turned  in  with  his  boots  and  overcoat  on), 
and  occasionally  interrupts  his  nap  by  rolling  over,  with  his 
face  toward  the  company,  so  as  to  join  in  our  conversation  ;  a 
very  rickety  wash-stand  is  placed  opposite  the  bed,  garnished  with 
a  tin  hand-basin,  not  over  clean,  and  a  brace  of  empty  whisky- 
bottles,  one  of  which  does  duty  as  a  candlestick  ;  over  these 
hang  a  crooked  looking-glass,  which  will  caricature  your  face 
into  a  monkey's,  if  you  are  bold  enough  to  consult  its  dusty  sur- 
face ;  or  if  you  would  regenerate  your  hair,  look  to  the  right  of 
the  mirror,  where  you  will  find  a  half-worn  brush  and  very 
greasy  comb,  which  are  attached  to  long  pieces  of  red  tape,  and 
hang  pendant  from  the  wall,  pro  bono  publico;  add  to  these,  a 
rough  board  table,  whose  uncertain  legs  interfere  sadly  with  our 
penmanship  ;  and  a  tallow  dip  in  a  sea-green  brass  candlestick, 


ROUGH  SKETCHES. 


n 


•which  reminds  one  strongly  of  a  badly-managed  revolving  light, 
and  you  have  an  inventory  of  the  regular  accessories  to  this  very 
primitive  apartment.  As  fcr  ^  n  irregulars,  they  are  all  around 
lug  ;  for  the  dingy  walls  are  L  .y  papered  with  "circus  bills," 
(unreadable  business  cards,  notice^  of  sheriffs'  sales,  stray  cat- 
tle, and  patent  medicines,  "  good  for  the  chills  f  nor  are  these 
all  ;  cloaks,  hats,  and  riding-whips  are  suspended  from  every 
available  peg,  and  a  rifle,  flanked  by  its  bullet-pouch  and  horn, 
|rests  above  the  door,  while  the  tobacco-stained  floor  under  our 
feet  is  littered  with  a  mingling  of  buffalo  over-shoes,  robes, 
Mackinaws,  and  such  like  travelling  gear. 

And  oh  !  if  it  were  only  in  our  line,  how  we  should  like  to 
sketch  in  the  group  around  the  fire — but  "we  kaut,  we  really 
iant,"  it  isn't  in  ouer  way.  If  we  were  Doesticks,  or  Dickens, 
:>r  Widow  Beclott,  or  somebody  else,  whose  name  doesn't  occur 
;o  us  just  now,  we  might  do  them  justice,  but  as  we  are  ourself, 
jind  nothing  more,  we  must  confine  our  pen  and  ink  delineations 
to  an  outline  ;  so  here  goes  for  a  slap-dash  description. 

"  Misery  makes  strange  companionships — so  do°s  travelling  ; 
vhat  incongruities — were  ever  such  opposites  united  before  V 
•  So  ran  our  mental  criticism,  good  reader,  as  our  wind-dam- 
iiged  eyes  wandered  from  one  to  another  of  our  associates  for 
the  time  being,  and  it  was  a  mixture  of  which  we  shall  give 
'70u  a  taste  of  the  ingredients. 

In  the  very  warmest  corner — a  seat  most  judiciously  chosen — 
i!at  an  old  Yankee,  with  a  long,  sharp  nose,  and  keen  grey  eyes, 
)ver  which  a  pair  of  heavy  eyebrows  arched  themselves  ever 
tnd  anon,  as  if  they  said,  "  Wael,  I  never — du  tell  !"  These  with  a 
trip  of  yellow  forehead,  a  bilious  complexion,  and  amost  unyielding 
|  lead  of  hair,  complete  a  face,  which  would  have  been  a  letter  of 
Itaedit  for  its  owner's  "  all-fired  smartness,"  from  Persia  to  the 
[Poles  ;  as  for  dress,  Jonathan  was  rigged  out  in  a  coat,  that 
I  ras  built  among  the  granite  hills  of  cold  New  Hampshire,  or  no- 


72 


SOMETHING  FROM  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


where — a  swallow-tailed  thing,  with  huge  pockets,  and  brighi 
brass  buttons  ;  to  this  add  a  generous  allowance  of  shirt-collar,  a 
free-and-easy  neek'erchief,  a  pair  of  striped  breeches,  whose  legs 
were  a  world  too  short  for  his  long  shanks,  and  an  unpolished 
sample  of  eastern-made  boots,  and  we  natter  ourself  that  you 
have  a  tolerably  correct  likeness  of  as  unmitigated  a  Yankee  as 
ever  whittled  a  stick,  or  talked  about  "  hum,"  as  connected  with 
the  land  of  wooden  nutmegs. 

Next  to  the  Yankee,  sat  our  friend  the  Yirginian,  the  living 
antipodes  of  the  character  which  we  have  just  been  attempting  to 
portray.  In  face  and  form  he  was  just  what  "  sweet  sixteen," 
with  her  pretty  head  filled  with 

"  Tales  of  old  romance," 

would  have  fallen  in  love  with  at  first  sight.    Yes,  there's  no 
denying  it,  for  though  "  verging  upon  the  forties,"  "  Yirginia" 
was  as  gallant  a  looking  fellow  as  you  would  meet  with  in  a  long 
day's  march.    And  for  his  age,  why,  as  the  fire-light  brings  out  i 
his  features  into  bolder  relief,  we  are  disposed  to  think,  that  the 
hand  of  Time  has  dealt  wisely  with  him,  in  strengthening 
the  lines  of  the  mouth  and  brow,  and  thereby  adding  a  maturer  ! 
dignity,  ere  in  his  ceaseless  flight  he  brings  the  strong  man  to  1 
the  full  perfection  of  meridian  life.    Yirginia  is  over  six  feet  in  j 
height,  well  proportioned,  and  very  Spanish  in  his  style,  for  his 
hair  and  flowing  beard  are  dark  "  as  the  raven's  wing,"  with 
eyes  to  match.    Take  him  all  in  all,  he  is  a  true  son  of  the  Old 
Dominion,  an  F.  F.  Y.  t(  sans  peur  et  sans  rcproche,"  whose 
dress,  and  air,  and  manner,  somewhat  imperious  though  it  be, 
bespeak  the  gentleman  born  and  bred,  of  the  real  Yirginian 
school,  where  men  are  men,  not  black-coated  fops. 

And  now  we  crave  room,  plenty  of  room,  or  he  may  "  clar 
the  ground  "  himself,  for  another  character,  and  a  peculiar  one 
withal.    He  is  a  type  of  the  genus  "  Border  Ruffian,"  a  frontier 


A  BORDER  RUFFIAN. 


73 


Missourian,  just  fresh  from  the  Kansas  Wars,  where  he  has  been 
figuring  as  an  incendiary  Pro-Slavery  volunteer,  and  "  don't  kear  a 
dog-gaun  who  knows  it."  He  is  a  tall,  gaunt  man,  all  bone  and 
muscle,  with  ape-like  limbs,  cast  in  no  classic  mould,  but  never- 
theless sufficiently  strong  to  "  wrap  'em  a'way  round  a  b'ar,"  and 
make  Bruin  grunt  with  anguish  at  every  hug.  In  short,  you 
may  regard  him  as  a  fair  exponent  of  that  eccentric  class  of 
Western  men,  who,  being  persons  of  terrible  experiences,  claim  to 
"  scream  louder,  jump  higher,  shoot  closer,  get  more  drunk  at 
night,  and  wake  up  more  sober  in  the  morning  "  than  "  any 
other  human''  this  side  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  "  ef  you 
don't  believe  it"  it's  "I'm  easy  to  whip,  stranger,  I  am,  just 
pitch  in,  will  yeou,  and  don't  stand  on  ceremony,"  with,  mayhap, 
a  flourish  from  a  horn-handled  bowie-knife  to  second  the  invitation. 
Our  Border  Ruffian  is  just  now  regarding  the  Yankee  as  if  he 

•  would  give  the  best  horse  he  ever  rode  for  a  reasonable  excuse 
to  "jump  him  up,"  but  the  returned  volunteer  "will  hardly  get 

j  a  chance  ;  for  though  Jonathan  evidently  dislikes  his  neighbor, 
he  has  no  notion  of  engaging  in  a  row,  where  he  "  don't  feel  him- 

i  self  to  hum." 

The  Borderer  is  careless,  even  to  a»fault,  in  his  costume  ;  he 
sports  a  sky-blue  blanket  overcoat  (a  favorite  color  in  MissoiW), 
from  the  side-pocket  of  which  the  butt  "of  a  six-shooter  peeps 
threateningly  out,  and  if  you  will  take  a  look  into  his  right  boot- 
leg, we  should  say  that  a  serviceable  bowie-knife  might  be  found 
inserted  between  the  leather  and  his  tucked-in  Kentucky  jean 
pantaloons.  He  has  hard,  weather-beaten  features,  long  brown 
i  hair,  and  a  restless  eye  ;  his  teeth  are  good,  and  his  mo  ht 
though  somewhat  large,  might  have  been  called  handsome  ;  but 
an  inveterate  habit  of  tobacco-chewing  has  drawn  down  the  left 
corner,  from  whence  a  leak  lets  the  juice  of  the  weed  dribble 
gently  down. 

How  do  you  like  our  last  effort,  Miss  Precise  ? — think  it 

4 


74 


MISS  PRECISE. 


colored  hey  ?  Not  at  all  ;  it's  done  in  simple  white  and  black, 
nothing  more  we  assure  you,  but  you  think  he's  a  "  horrid 
beast."  Oh,  you  do  ;  well,  we  congratulate  ourself  twice  ;  first, 
that  we  are  not  your  big  brother  ;  and  secondly,  that  the  subject 
of  our  sketch  is  unacquainted  with  your  very  flattering  opinion 
of  him.  But  seriously,  Miss  Precise,  did  you  never  hear  of 
an  unpolished  gem  ?  Never  mind  our  Borderer's  rough-setting. 
He  is  a  diamond  of  the  purest  water  for  all  that.  An  honest 
single-hearted  sort  of  creature,  rather  Indian  in  his  nature,  who 
loves  and  hates  with  equal  zeal.  He'd  cut  your  throat  if  you 
insulted  him,  and  his  idea  of  an  insult  includes  any  disparagement 
of  the  South  or  her  peculiar  institutions  ;  but  on  the  other  hand, 
he  would  share  his  last  dollar  with  you  if  you  needed  it,  and  if 
a  woman  or  a  child  be  in  the  case,  he  is  one  of  the  tenderest 
hearted  fellows  in  the  world.  Of  such  are  Kit  Carson,  born  in 
Boonslick  County,  Missouri,  and  the  whole-souled  pioneer  men  of 
the  Far  West. 

But  our  outline  has  already  tempted  us  too  far  from  our 
marked-out  track.  We  have  yet  to  reach  Kansas  and  the 
War,  and  these  digressions  delay  one  sadly  ;  so  complete  our 
fire-side  group  with  a  stSge-driver  (not  the  gentleman  on  the 
bed),  a  "  Hoosier,"  a  trio  of  hog-drivers,  a  Missouri  landlord, 
and  a  "  special  correspondent,"  and  then  fill  in  the  picture  to 
suit  yourself. 

One  paragraph  more,  and  we  will  complete  our  journalizing  in 
Marshall.  We  are  writing  in  a  mild  Bedlam.  The  Demon  of  poli- 
tics has  stirred  up  our  companions.  The  Free  State  war  is 
before  the  house.  The  Yankee  is  defining  his  position.  The 
Missourians,  with  equal  earnestness,  are  defending -theirs.  The 
arguments  on  both  sides  grow  "  fast  and  furious,"  and  already 
threaten  personalities  ;  and,  to  crown  all,  the  sound  of  "  de 
fiddle  and  de  bow"  is  to  be  heard  from  an  adjoining  cabin, 
where  a  long-legged  Kentucky  amateur  plays  a  tuneful  violin, 


BEDLAM. 


75 


and  a  nigger,  stripped  to  his  breeches  and  shirt,  is  "breaking 
down  "  to  that  good  old  tune  "  The  Arkansas  Traveller,"  as  if 
his  life  depended  upon  the  elasticity  of  his  legs. 

Dec.  15. — Breakfast  over — sun  just  getting  out  of  a  snow- 
bank— hack  at  the  door — Virginia  and  ourself  inside — carpet- 
bags ditto  ;  we  drive  off.  Stop,  hold  on  :  we  have  forgotten 
something — our  note-book  was  missing.  We  go  back  to  look 
up  the  lost  sheep,  and  reenter  the  "  hotel  "  just  in  time  to  hear 
a  Missourian  say  : 

"  That  man — why,  he's  a  correspondent  of  that  vile  Abolition 
paper,  the  New  York  Herald." 

We  concluded  that  the  "schoolmaster"  might  be  "abroad" 
in  Marshall,  but  didn't  think  it  probable.  We  recovered  our 
property,  and  then  made  good  our  retreat  without  beat  of  drum. 
"That  vile  Abolition  paper,  the  Herald" — 0,  Tempora  I  O, 
Moses  !  as  Mrs.  Partington  feelingly  remarked,  when  Ike  tumbled 
into  the  barrel  of  soft  soap  :  "  Isn't  it  a  blessed  thing  to  edito- 
rialize for  an  appreciative  public  ?" 

Another  miserable  day,  and  more  of  it.  Virginia  too  cold  to 
talk,  and  "  your  correspondent "  too  sleepy.  Nigger  Jim,  who 
has  a  bottle  of  Red-eye  whisky,  "  warranted  to  kill  forty  rods 
round  the  corner,"  in  his  pocket,  thaws  out  under  its  influence  and 
become  gradually  enthusiastic,  whereupon  we  ask  Nigga  Jim  what 
he  thinks  about  the  "  Kansas  War,"  who  makes  answer  as  follows  : 

"  Can't  say,  massa  ;  never  form  no  'pinion  ;  dis  nigger  ain't 
a  gwyne  to  'stress  himself  bout  politics  ;  don't  reckon  much  on 
dese  Abolitiouists,  no  how  ;  but  jest  know  dis,  massa,  dat  dis 
nigga's  jest  as  happy  and  'joys  himself  as  much  as  if  he  owned 
de  whole  town  of  Lexington  ;  bein'  slave  is  may-be  mighty 
hard  on  white  folks,  but  it's  dreadful  good  for  nigga." 

We  fell  asleep  well  satisfied,  for  we  had  gained  a  new  idea, 
or,  to  speak  more  correctly,  had  an  old  one  verified,  by 
evidence  from  a  "  most  undoubted  authority,"  whose  opportu- 


76 


THE  PEACE-MAKER. 


nities  for  acquiring  practical  information  rendered  him  well 
qualified  to  judge. 

Night-fall  again — sun  down  in  another  snow-bank — a  streak 
or  two  of  yellowish  white  light  in  the  West — dark  grey  clouds 
overhead,  while 

"  Out  of  those  frozen  clouds  the  snow 
In  wavering  flakes  begins  to  flow." 

We  enter  Lexington  '*  City,"  and  draw  up  at  the  door  of  Wal- 
ton's Hotel.  The  hack  is  halted — the  door  opens — we  descend, 
and  our  carpet-bag  follows.  The  fare,  as  stipulated  in  Boons- 
ville  by  "  the  party  of  the  first  part,"  is  duly  paid,  and  Nigga 
Jim  and  "  Our  Correspondent"  are  parted  for  ever. 

An  hour  later — inside  the  hotel — we  have  had  supper,  and  a 
difficulty  with  the  landlord,  by  way  of  dessert  ;  it  has,  however, 
just  been  arranged  in  a  highly  satisfactory  manner  to  both  par- 
ties, by  a  visit  to  "the  bar,"  by  which  the  reader  may  under- 
stand, not  the  bar  of  justice,  but  the  "  saloon  "  next  door  ;  and 
we  consider  it  about  as  cheap  a  row,  by  the  way,  as  we  ever  got 
into  in  our  life  ;  for  a  "  drink"  of  old  Rye  (which  is  at  times 
regarded  in  Missouri  as  the  pledge  of  peace,  though  it  is  oftener 
the  cause  of  feud),  costs  just  one  dime  per  glass  ;  so  that  our 
late  difficulty  with  "  mine  host "  stood  us  in  twenty  cents  pre- 
cisely, a  clear  saving  of  lawyers'  fees  and  costs  of  court,  not  to 
mention  vexation  and  the  possible  necessity  of  r<  a  surgeon  and 
a  friend  "  in  the  morning — think  of  this,  ye  pugnacious  people, 
but  two  dimes  to  settle  a  fight  ;  mirabile  didu!  was  there  ever 
so  cheap  a  luxury  ? 

Eight  o'clock,  p.  m  ;  we  are  solus,  with  a  bed-chamber,  two 
tallow  candles,  a  shaky  table,  and  pen,  ink  and  paper  for  com- 
pany ;  with  which,  half-past  eight  found  us  writing  away  at  our 
Journal,  for  the  subject  matter  of  which  see  the  next  chapter. 


BEATING  THE  MAIL. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

LEXINGTON. 


As  our  location  indicates,  we  are  still  en  route  for  Kansas  ; 
but,  n'importe,  we  are  in  advance  of  the  mail,  and  did  mean  to 
have  continued  so,  but  at  this  place,  we  have  come  to  a  dead 
lock  ;  for,  until  the  stage  arrives,  there  will  be  nothing  going 
on,  we  fear  (alas  !)  in  any  respect.  We  might  "foot  it,'*  it  is 
true,  and  would;  but  there's  our  carpet-bag — ah  !  that's  a  draw- 
back ;  and  then,  what  with  broken  bridges  (we  crossed  one 
chained  to  a  tree  to-day,  to  keep  it  from  sloping  clown  stream), 
swollen  streams,  swampy  bottom-lands,  and  rut-plonghed  prairie 
roads,  the  De'il  himself  couldn't  make  much  headway  on  his  own 
private  hoofs,  even  with  the  assistance  of  his  tail  for  a  cane, 
over  a  Missouri  highway  in  winter.  So  "  Shank's  mare  "  is  not 
to  be  thought  of  ;  but  there's  some  hope  left  still,  though  it  be 
founded  upon  possibilities,  for  this  untoward  weather  cannot  last 
for  ever  ;  and  then  the  stage  may  come  up;  and  we  may  get  a 
seat,  and  thus  reach  Westport,  if  we  have  very  great  good 
luck,  within  four  and  twenty  hours  from  this  present  writing, 
when,  "  please  the  grunters,"  we  will  enter  Kansas — yea,  even 
though  it  should  be  through  an  army  of  Border  Ruffians  and 
upon  the  rump  of  a  Mexican  jackass. 

0  Kansas  !  Kansas  1  Thou  longed  for  **■  haven  where  we 
would  be,''  but  not  "  at  rest,"  when  shall  we  treac]  thy  snow- 


78 


GAS. 


clad  prairies,  and  gaze  upon  thy  Lawrence — the  hope  and 
pride  of  thy  Free  State  men's  eyes — a  locality  which  must,  from 
this  day  forward,  be  more  than  classic  ground  to  every  "  Woolly 
Head,"  of  the  veteran  white-coated  brigade  ?  Oh  1  would  that 
we  had  been  there  when  the  bloody  ensign  hung  out  upon  the 
outer  wall  of  that  beleaguered  city.  Would  we  not  have 
"  pitched  in  V  Ah  !  no,  but  we'd  have  sat,  like  Marius  among  the 
ruins  of  Carthage,  or  anybody  else  you  please,  with  a  grey-goose 
quill  in  our  fur-mittened  right  hand,  and  taken  notes  in  most 
unreadable  abbreviations.  Aye,  that  we  would,  even  among 
"flames and  blazes,"  the 

"  Wreck  of  matter  and  the  crush  of  worlds.*' 

So  much  for  fun — we'll  grow  more  serious  anon. 

Sunday,  Dec.  IQth. — We  held  converse  to-day  with  a  number 
of  Missourians,  who  have  just  returned  from  "  the  seat  of  War, 
in  Kansas,"  where  they  have  been  serving  in  the  ranks  of  the 
Pro-Slavery,  or,  as  some  call  it,  Governor  Shannon's  army.  They 
are  full  of  talk  about  "  the  War  ;"  indeed,  to  do  the  good  people 
in  this  vicinity  justice,  Kansas,  and  "  the  vile  Abolitionists,"  are 
in  everybody's  mouth.  They  are  shouted  in  the  bar-rooms,  they 
are  sounded  in  the  streets,  until  the  very  parlors  catch  the  oft- 
repeated  echoes,  and  packages  of  Missourian  beauty,  done  up 
with  care,  in  the  last  new  fashion  from  New  York  (and  a  very 
liberal  one  it  is,  so  far  as  hoops  and  flounces  are  concerned), 
talk  resistance  and  disunion  as  they  discuss  "  Kansas  and  the 
Wakarusa  War."  We  have  even  heard  of  an  enthusiastic  fair 
one,  residing  in  the  territory,  who  declined  giving  her  hand  to  a 
gentleman  Free-Soilcr  in  the  dance,  alleging  as  a  reason,  that  she 
was  a  Border  Ruffian,  and  under  such  circumstances,  wouldn't 
get'up  "an  affinity"  with  any  "Cromwell  of  them  all." 

The  Kausas  excitement  is  certainly  at  a  white  heat  in  this 
region.    Old  men  shake  their  heads  and  express  decided  opinions 


strickler's  aide-de-camp. 


70 


while  young  Missouri,  yet  more  determined,  looks  revolvers,  and 
talks  bowie-knives,  as  he  openly  declares  that  "  the  boys  ought 
never  to  have  left  an  infernal  Abolitionist  alive  in  Lawrence." 

Among  those  with  whom  we  have  talked  the  matter  over  to- 
day, was  an  aide-de-camp  of  General  Strickler's,  who  has  just 
returned  from  his  arduous  campaign,  with  what,  to  our  thinking, 
may  not  improperly  be  called  the  Field  and  Staff  Brigade,  for, 
may  we  be  placed  in  that  extremity,  if  we  have  as  yet  seen  a 
man,  of  all  those  "  fire-eating  "  sons  of  Missouri,  who  volunteered 
M  for  the  war,"  who  was  not  a  subaltern  at  the  very  least.  The 
Colonel  (we  think  that  was  his  title,  and  desire  to  apologize  if 
we  underrate  his  rank),  informed  us  that  he  had  written  a  short 
history  of  the  u  Wakarusa  War."  We  were  most  anxious  to 
see  it,  and  therefore  intimated  to  the  aide-de-camp  that  his 
manuscript,  or  even  an  abridgment  of  its  conteuts,  would  be  a 
very  acceptable  addition  to  our  gleanings  of  intelligence  by  the 
way.  But  the  gallant  Colonel's  modesty  got  the  better  of  his 
desire  to  oblige  us,  so  we  shall  therefore  be  compelled,  though 
most  reluctantly,  to  disappoint  public  curiosity,  so  far  as  the 
publication  of  our  Pro-Slavery  military  friend's  reminiscences 
are  concerned,  though  we  offered  "a  first-rate  notice"  as  an 
inducement,  and  the  New-York  Herald  for  a  publisher. 

While  engaged  in  conversation  with  this  gentleman,  Col. 
Walton  (mine  host  of  the  city,  and  formerly  an  officer  of 
Doniphan's  command),  called  our  attention  to  a  burly,  black- 
smithy  looking  dark-complexioned  individual,  in  the  geueral  sit- 
ting-room, which  adjoined  that  in  which  which  we  were  standing. 
The  person  pointed  out  seemed,  for  some  reason,  but  for  what 
we  could  not  understand,  to  be  the  cynosure  of  every  eye  ;  nor 
were  the  glances  directed  toward  him  of  either  a  flattering  or 
an  amicable  .description  ;  on  the  contrary,  men  scrutinized  him  as 
they  might  have  examined  a  newly-imported  wild  animal  at  a 
show,  and  then  nodded  their  heads,  and  jogged  the  elbows  of 


80 


PARSON  CLARKE. 


their  neighbors,  who  looked  up  and  stared  as  if  Barnum's  mer 
maid  had  just  walked  out  of  the  glass  case,  with  her  tail  under 

her  arm. 
"  It's  him." 
"It  isn't." 

"  It's  that  rascally  Abolitionist,  I  tell  you.    I'd  know  him 
among  a  thousand,"  were  the  muttered  comments  of  those  about  us. 
"  Who  is  it?"  we  asked. 

"  Why  it's  P  ,"  answered  mine  host. 

"But  who  is  P  ?" 

"  Why  P  is  the  prisoner  that  our  people  took,  as  he 

was  travelling  from  Lawrence  to  Lecompton.  He  is  one  of  the 
Pree  State  men,  an  agent,  the  financial  one,  I  believe,  of  the 
Kansas  Emigrant  Aid  Society,  and  a  prominent  man  among  the 
Abolitionists  beside.  He  is  now  travelling  under  the  name  of 
Clarke,  and  claims  to  be  a  Baptist  preacher,  but  he  might  save  him- 
self the  trouble,  for  there  are  fifty  men  here  who  recognize  him." 

Whew  !  thought  we—"  the  murder's  out."  Here,  then,  is  one 
of  the  famous  Lawrence  men,  a  bona  fide  sample  of  those  doughty 
warriors,  who  are  setting  the  American  world  by  the  ears.  One 
of  the  Free  State  Sharpe's  rifle  and  Colt's  revolver  breed — a 
veritable  specimen,  all  alive  and  kicking.  We  got  excited,  we 
already  scented  a  column  of  private  information,  "  exclusive  to  the 
Herald,"  from  the  Yankee  side  of  the  question.  So  we  deter- 
mined to  make  P  's  acquaintance,  even  at  the  risk  of  being 

taken  for  "a  bird  of  that  feather,"  in  which  case  our  chance  of 
beinir  lynched  for  a  Down  Eastern  Agitator,  who  might  or  might 
not  "  steal  niggers,"  as  opportunity  offered,  would  have  been 
exceedingly  good. 

M  Introduce  us,"  cried  we  to  Col.  Walton. 

We  were  led  up  accordingly.  Pro-Slavery  men,  with  whom 
we  had  previously  been  conversing  in  a  very  amiable  way, 
looked  ferocious,  but  we  didn't  quail. 


THE  FREE  STATE  GENERAL. 


81 


"  General  P  ,  let  me  make  you  acquainted  with  Mr. 

 .  The  Special  Correspondent  for  Kansas,  of  the  New  York 

Herald."  We  exchange  the  usual  compliments,  and  ihe  fol- 
lowing dialogue  ensues  : 

Correspondent. — So,  General  P  ,  you  are  just  from 

Lawrence  ? 

Free  State  General. — Yes  sir,  I  was  a  prisoner  in  General 
Strickler's  camp  for  four  or  five  days.  They  took  me  as  I  was 
travelling. 

Correspondent. — Is  it  possible  ?  We  hope  they  used  you  well. 
Did  they  threaten  you  ?    We  presume,  however,  that  they  did. 

Free  State  General. — Yes,  the  rabble,  that  is,  the  common 
men,  threatened  me,  but  their  officers  restrained  them. 

Correspondent. — Oh  !  the  officers  took  care  of  you,  did  they  ? 
Well  I  suppose  they  gave  you  plenty  of  corn  dodgers,  good  coffee, 
and  all  that  sort  of  thing  ? 

Free  State  General. — Yes,  I  lived  as  well  as  the  officers. . 
I  was  liberated  about  the  time  that  the  troubles  were  settled, 
but  they  took  me  out  of  their  camp  (the  one  on  the  Wakarusa 
creek),  very  quietly  at  midnight,  when  they  let  me  go,  for  it  was 
supposed  by  the  Pro-Slavery  leaders  that  their  soldiers  might 
do  me  a  mischief  if  I  fell  into  their  hands.  So  General  Strick- 
ler,  with  General  Richardson,  and  Senator  Atchinson,  released 
me  secretly  for  fear  of  the  mob. 

Correspondent. — Now,  General  P  ,  could  you  not  give 

us  some  notion  of  the  state  of  affairs  at  Lawrence  ?  How  about 
those  "  breast-works,"  cannon,  Sharpe's  rifles,  &c  ?  We  learn  that 
your  people  had  a  white  flag  flying  over  Doctor  Robinson's 
house  (the  Commander  in  Chief  of  the  Free  State  Army).  Is 
that  so,  and  what  terms  did  you  make  finally  ?  Come,  post  us 
up,  let  us  have  the  items.  The  readers  of  the  New  York 
Herald  will  be  glad  to  hear  your  story.  Nothing  like  both 
sides  of  the  question  being  fairly  stated,  you  know. 

4* 


&2 


ITEMS 


Free  State  General. — Well,  I  guess  the  New  York  papers 
know  all  about  it  now.  The  Tribune's  had  a  man  out  there  these 
six  weeks,  a  person  named  Winchell,  or  something  like  that. 
Then,  there's  Phillips,  he  writes  letters  for  the  New  York  Times, 
and  Tom  Shankland  too,  he  sends  news  to  the  Tribune  some- 
times ;  I  reckon  they  have  heard  all  about  it  by  telegraph,  any- 
how. 

(We  intimated  that  the  telegraph  wires  were  down,  and 
communication  by  mail  at  that  season  of  the  year,  very  un- 
certain.)   General  P  continues  : — 

"  Well,  as  to  the  breast- works,  we  had  them,  I  can  tell  you, 
with  trenches,  and  rifle-pits  too  ;  I  guess  they  cost  as  much  as 
five  thousand  dollars.  We  didn't  have  as  many  men  as  was 
reported,  but  we  had  a  cannon  and  plenty  of  Sharp's  rifles. 
There  was  a  white  flag  a-flying  over  Doctor  Robinson's  house. 
Doctor  Robinson  was  down  in  the  town,  and  his  women  folks 
hoisted  it.  As  to  the  terms  of  the  capitulation,  there's  all  sorts 
of  stories  about  it,  but  I  guess  there  was  no  particular  agree- 
ment, anyhow.  That's  what  it  will  turn  out  to  be  in  the  end, 
we  didn't  give  up  our  arms  nor  agree  to  do  so,  either." 

(Note:  We  fancy  there  was  some  mistake,  or  it  may  be  a 

desire  on  the  part  of  Geu.  P  •  to  mislead  us,  as  to  his 

knowledge  of  this  treaty  ;  for  Gen.  Robinson  afterwards  gave 

us  to  understand  that  P   was  acquainted  with  the  terms 

of  the  treaty  at  the  time  when  this  conversation  took  place.  In- 
deed Gen.  Robinson  supposed  that  it  was  from  him  that  we 
obtained  copies  of  the  "  stipulations "  agreed  upon  between 
Governor  Shannon  and  the  Free  State  leaders,  with  its  accom- 
panying document.  In  this,  however,  he  is  mistaken,  for 
though  we  certainly  did  make  accurate  transcripts  of  these  papers 
previous  to  our  entering  Kansas,  and  at  a  time  when  it  was 
presumed  that  there  were  but  three  copies  in  existence,  we 
received  them  from  another  quarter,  a  gentleman   deep  in 


CLARKE",   ALIAS  P 


S3 


the  councils  of  the  Free  State  party,  but  whose  name  we  are  in 
honor  bound  not  to  divulge.) 

Correspondent. — With  such  excellent  opportunities  as  you 
must  have  possessed  for  forming  a  correct  judgment,  General 
P  }  your  opinion  as  to  the  cause  and  growth  of  these  distur- 
bances at  Lawrence,  would  be  valuable  ;  could  you  favor  us 
with  it  ? 

Free  State  General. — Well,  I  guess  it  was  just  a  misunderstand- 
ing all  around  and  nothing  more  Some  folks  in  Lawrence  are 
mightily  hot-headed  one  way,  and  some  the  other.  There  are 
people  among  the  Free  Soilers  who  made  a  great  deal  of 
talk  and  stirred  things  up  considerable,  but  I  guess  they  would 
have  been  wanting  if  it  had  come  to  a  fight  ;  and  then  there's 
others  who  kept  still,  and  didn't  say  much,  that  would  have 
fought  till  they  died. 

Correspondent. — Who  are  the  real  leaders  of  this  Free  State 
movement  at  Lawrence  ?  * 

Free  State  General. — Well,  General  Lane  I  guess,  and 
Doctor  Robinson  too,  are  leading  men. 

Here  the  "  down  stage  "  in  which  General  P —  alias  Mr. 

Sam  Clarke  (for  our  Free  Slate  " mffitaire"  had,  as  Col. 
Walton  informed  us,  found  it  more  convenient,  and  it  may  be 
safer,  to  register  himself  in  that  name,  of  which  more  anon),  had 
taken  his  seat,  was  reported  ready.  Whereupon  the  General 
turned  to  us  and  said  : — 

"  Mr.  ,  as  you  are  collecting  information  in  regard  to  Kan- 
sas matters,  for  the  Herald,  I  will  give  you  a  letter  to  some  of 
the  Lawrence  people  ;  it  will  help  you  along." 

As  we  were  very  willing  to  be  "  helped  along"  so  far  as  our 
fact-gathering  was  concerned,  we  expressed  our  willingness  to 
receive  any  documents  which  might  tend  to  the  elucidation  of 
that  very  knotty  problem,  the  state  of  affairs  in  Kansas.  Where- 
upon, the  General  very  politely  stepped  up  to  the  landlord's 


.84 


A  TERRIBLE  ALTERNATIVE. 


desk  and  ia  a  few  moments  furnished  us  with  a  specimen  of  his 
chiro^raphy  in  the  shape  of  a  brief  letter  of  introduction  to 
Doctor  Robinson,  the  chief  far  excellence  of  the  Free  State  move- 
ment in  Kansas  for  which  the  giver  will  be  pleased  to  accept  our 
thanks,  but  may  the  Peace  Society  deliver  us,  if  these  blood- 
thirsty and  fire-eating  Missourians  should  catch  us  with  such  a 
document  upon  our  person  ;  for  it  would  most  assuredly  be  our 
credential  to  anything  but  a  polite  reception  ;  indeed,  we  should 
expect  a  coat  of  tar  and  feathers  at  the  very  least  ;  or,  as  a  ter- 
rible alternative,  be  obliged  to  prove  the  sounduess  of  our  poli- 
tical principles  ;  and,  as  the  Border  Ruffians  express  it,  show 
onrself  to  be  "all  right  upon  the  goose,"  by  accepting  a  planta- 
tion with  half  a  hundred  u  niggars,"  and  adding  a  guarantee  to 
shake  out  the  remainder  of  our  days  upon  the  rich  timber-land 
of  the  "  Missouri  bottom. " 

And  now  to  write  more  seriously  :  during  our  passage  through 
Missouri,  we  have  been  studying  the  "genius  of  the  people" 
pretty  constantly,  and  -we  think  that  we  may  now  safely  say, 
that  the  good  citizens  of  this  State,  though,  as  a  general  thing, 
endowed  with  a  fair  proportion  of  hard  common  sense,  are  still 
som  what  fallible,  not  to  say  stupid,  in  their  very  summary 
w\  <>f  judging  Eastern,  or  Free-State-born  men;  for  they 
would  appear  to  be  firm  believers  in  the  adage,  that  "  none  can 
touch  pitch  and  not  be  defiled."  To  have  beeu  "  raised  "  on  Deown 
E:  Johnny-cakes,  or  even  Ohio  corn,  is  a  certificate  in  full  for 
Abolitionism  and  fanatical  proclivities,  or  Free  Soilism  at  the  best. 
Indeed,  the  "black  North"  is  but  little  understood  ;  for,  as  we 
stated  in  our  journalizing  from  Marshall,  we  heard  ourself  spoken 
of  as  "  an  agent  for  that  viie  Abolition  paper,  the  Herald  ;"  the 
Hen  fd,  a  good  joke  is  it  not  ?  yes,  it  may  be  to  you,  but  we've 
made  a  mental  note  of  it,  nevertheless,  and  don't  intend  to  come 
again,  as  a  newspaper  correspondent,  at  any  price,  unless 
"  our  paper  "  furnishes  us  with  the  political  character  of  the 


OFF  THE  TRACK. 


85 


sheet,  so  "fairly  writ"  as  to  please  everybody,  with,  if  you 
please,  a  certificate  appended,  to  the  effect  that  the  New  York 
Herald  don't  and  never  did  belong  to  the  "Woolly  Head"  fac- 
tion, or  its  representatives.  But  we  must  cry  a  truce  to  this, 
for  we  find  that  we  have  been  imitating  the  example  of  the 
Camden  and  Amboy  railroad,  insomuch  as  we  are  running  off 
the  track  of  our  subject,  in  trying  to  get  on  ;  so,  lest  we  should 
carry  out  the  simile,  and  conclude  with  a  "  smash  up,"  we  will 
even  "  get  back  to  our  mutton,"  which,  by  this  time,  must  be 
moderately  cold. 

Let  us  see — we  were  in  the  bar-room  of  the  Lexington  City 
Hotel,  hearing  everybody  talk  Kansas.  Well,  our  friend,  Gen- 
eral P  ,  got  off  with  a  whole  skin,  somewhat,  as  we  fancied, 

to  his  surprise,  for  he  made  a  most  obsequious  bow  to  the  litue 
crowd  of  Lexingtonians,  who  gathered  round  him  as  he  mounted 
the  steps  of  the  stage,  from  whence  his  "  I  wish  you  a  very  good 
morning,  gentlemen,"  was  evidently  spoken  in  deprecation  of 
any  contemplated  violence  to  his  person,  for  though  it  was  a 
sort  of  farewell  benediction,  and  nothing  more,  it  seemed  to  say, 
"  don't  hurt  me,  if  you  please,  I'm  only  one,  and  so  little  ;  now 
be  merciful,  and  don't." 

Upon  returning  to  the  store,  to  rejoin  what  Dickens,  in  his 
American  " Diary"  (where  he  "handles  us  without  gloves") 
would  have  called  the  circle  of  tobaceo-spitters,  we  found  the 
generality  of  the  crowd  all  busily  engaged  in  warming  themselves 
physically,  by  the  fire,  while  they  heated  their  indignation  by  a 
discourse,  in  which  that  accursed  thing,  "  Abolitionism,"  figured 

as  the  text,  and  General  P   as  a  "horrible  example." 

To  have  listened  to  the  running  fire  of  injurious  observations, 
which  vvas  kept  up  on  every  side,  one  might  have  supposed  that 
a  contribution-box,  labelled  "  Proofs  of  depravity,  as  exhibited 

in  the  political  character  of  Mr.  Abolitionist  P  ;  the 

smallest  favors  thankfully  received,"  was  being  passed  round,  so 


86 


FREE  SOIL  P- 


anxious  seemed  every  one  to  pitch  in  his  mite.  From  the  sum 
total  of  these  collections,  after  duly  counting  the  receipts,  and 
throwing  out  a  quantity  of  base  metal,  we  have  gathered  the 
following  : 

That  Mr.  Abolitionist,  or  Free  Soil  P  was  travelling 

under  the  name,  as  before  stated,  of  Sam  Clarke  (this  we  verified 
by  the  hotel  register),  who,  as  Sam  Clarke,  claimed  to  be  a  Bap- 
tist preacher,  whether  "  Hard  Shell,"  or  u  Close  Communion," 
this  deponent  is  not  prepared  to  say,  but  that  the  soi  disant 

Sam  was  really  named  P  ,  who  had  been  a  Free  State 

warrior 

"  Of  indifferent  fame," 

but  who  was  better  known  as  a  financial  agent  of  the  "  Eastern 
Aid  Societies."  Indeed,  as  we  afterwards  ascertained  from 

Governor  Shannon,  P   had  upwards  of  fifteen  thousand 

dollars  in  money  and  drafts  upon  his  person,  when  arrested  by 

the  Pro-Slavery  scouts.    P  's  reason  for  travelling  as  Mr. 

Sam  Clarke  (as  we  understand  it  to  have  been  stated  by  him- 
self to  others),  is  as  follows  : 

"  I  had  a  clerk  in  Kansas  named  Sam  Clarke,  and  wanted  to 
send  him  to  St.  Louis  on  business.  I  accordingly  took  a  place 
for  him  in  the  stage  ;  but  when  the  time  came  for  him  to  go,  he 
"  took  to  chilling  V  (that  is  to  say,  had  fever  and  ague),  and  was, 
therefore,  unable  to  start,  so  I  took  his  place  and  used  his  name." 

All  right,  general  ;  but,  as  Colonel  Walton  of  the  city  very 
pertinently  remarked,  ■'*  Was  it  necessary  that  you  should  eat 
and  sleep  as  Sam  Clarke,  as  well  as  ride  for  him  ?" 


FRIEND   BROAD-BRIM.  81 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

TREATS  OF  THINGS  RELIGIOUS  AND  SECULAR. 

Apropos  to  would-be  preachers — but  not  always  to  such  like — 
Goveruor  Shannon  afterwards  related  to  us  a  good  story,  which, 
though  it  be  a  digression,  may  as  well  find  its  way  into  these 
pages  before  we  enter  upon  the  grand  "  theatre  of  events." 

There  is  now  living  at  what  is  called  the  Quaker  Indian  Mission, 
which  is  located  on  the  Indian  Reserve  and  within  three  miles  of 
the  Shawnee  manual  labor  school,  where  the  Governor  has  estab- 
lished his  temporary  residence,  an  old  Quaker  who  is,  for  aught  we 
know  to  the  contrary,  everything  which  a  disciple  of  William  Penn 
— even  of  the  "straightest  sect" — ought  to  be.  But  we-all  have 
our  little  failings — as  somebody  once  said  of  Mr.  Seven  Stars' 
fondness  for  the  ladies  ;  and  in  our  Broad  Brim's  case,  politics 
were  an  "  amiable  weakness."  He  went  in  for  Reeder,  to  speak 
figuratively,  body  and  boots  ;  and  not  only  to  the  extent  of  his 
own  body  and  boots,  but  even  to  those  of  his  neighbors,  as  what 
we  are  about  to  state,  on  Shannon's  authority,  will  abundantly 
prove.  The  election  for  delegate  to  Congress — we  think  it 
was — came  on  ;  and  the  backers  of  Reeder  were  not  backward 
in  casting  in  their  paper  mites  at  the  ballot-box  ;  among  others 
friend  Broad  Brim,  as  we  shall  call  him,  came  also,  even  as  did 
Satan  of  old.  He  voted  once  ;  he  voted  twice  ;  he  voted 
thrice  ;  yea,  a  fourth  time  ;  and,  verily,  a  fifth  ;  and  every  time 
for  Reeder,  and  "  nary  lick"  for  anybody  else.    Now,  how  did 


88  HENRY  CLAY  INSULTED. 


he,  a  pious  and  a  God-fearing  man,  manage  it  ?  or,  how  could 

he  "  do  this  thing"  and  still  compound  with  his  conscience,  and, 
what  is  almost  as  much  to  the.  purpose,  clear  his  skirts  before 
his  brother  Broad  Brims  of  "  the  meeting  ?"  Header,  he  did  it 
thus  :  he  voted  once  for  himself,  and  on  four  other  occasions,  at 
the  same  ballot-box  and  for  the  same  candidate,  as  a  proxy 
for  his  particular  friends,  Messrs.  A.,  B.,  C,  and  D.,  all  of 
whom,  as  he  affirmed,  would  have  voted  for  Reeder,  but  unfor- 
tunately wa'nt  there  to  do  so. 

We  understand  that  this  mode  of  voting  by  proxy  was  exten- 
sively permitted,  and  we  fancy  upon  both  sides,  in  Kansas.  They 
have  singular  notions  in  the  West. 

But  this  is  not  the  only  peculiarity  about  friend  Broad  Brim; 
he  is,  at  least  so  says  Dame  Rumor,  a  red-hot  Emancipationist;, 
and  once,  when  Henry  Clay,  the  "  Harry  of  the  West "  was  ad- 
dressing a  large  political  meeting  at  Indianapolis,  la.,  of  which 
assemblage  friend  Broad  Brim  formed  a  unit,  this  identical  old 
Quaker  stepped  forward,  and  insulted  the  great  statesman  and 
orator,  whose  memory  is  enshrined  in  so  many  thousands  of 
American  hearts,  by  rudely  breaking  in  upon  his  remarks,  and 
crying  out,  "  Why  don't  you  liberate  your  niggers  ?  Go  home 
and  do  it  before  you  talk  to  us."  Or,  as  the  military  courts  say, 
"  words  to  that  effect." 

It  is  reported  that  Clay  paused,  looked  at  him  for  a  moment, 
and  then  said  :  "  Go  home,  sir,  yourself,  and  attend  to  your  owu 
business,  for  my  slaves  are  better  fed,  better  clothed,  and,  judg- 
ing from  your  very  abrupt  interruption  of  my  remarks,  better 
mannered  than  yourself." 

Rumor  adds,  that  upon  receiving  this  very  pointed  rebuke, 
friend  Broad  Brim  settled  down  an  inch  or  two  in  his  boots, 
and  then  slunk  away,  so  marvellously  discomfited  that  he  is  even 
reported  (in  his  extreme  agitation)  to  have  uncovered  and  made 
a  hasty  exit  from  the  room,  minus  his  sombrero. 


THE  ARREST. 


89 


But  to  return  to  our  "  tobacco-spitters;"  their  indictment  fur- 
ther set  forth  that  Mr.  Free  Soil  P  (for  if  he  travel 

with  one  alias,  why  should  we  net  provide  him  with  another  ?) 
was  riding  near  the  picket-guards  of  the  Pro-Slavery,  or  "law- 
executing  army,'1  then  encamped  upon  the  Wakarusa  creek, 

in  the  vicinity  of  Lawrence  ;  that  Mr.  Free  Soil  P  was 

requested,  somewhat  abruptly,  to  halt,  by  the  Pro-Slavery 

picket  aforesaid,  which  he,  P  ,  seemed  unwilling  to  do, 

until  a  Pro-Slavery  man  had  argued  him  into  it  by  drawing  a 
bead  upon  him  with  his  long  Missouri  rifle,  one  of ''Jake  Hawkins' 
best,"  and  bound  to  "shoot  centre  "  anywhere  within  two  hun- 
dred yards.  The  charge  goes  on  to  state  that  our  Free  Soiler, 
having  halted,  did,  thereupon,  like  Major  Andre  of  Revolu- 
tionary memory,  offer  then  and  there  ten  dollars  in  current 
"  shin-plasters  "  to  bribe  his  captors  into  liberating  him,  at  the 
same  time  stating  that  he  was  travelling  upon  urgent  business, 
and  would  willingly  sacrifice  even  that  amount  for  the  privilege 
of  "  getting  on."  But  our  Missourian  was  a  second  Yan  Woert — 
a  wag,  and  moreover  a  patriot  of  that  stern  and  inflexible  school 
who  never  make  good  aldermen.  It  is,  therefore,  upon  record, 
that  he  accepted  the  pecuniary  consideration  without  demur,  and 
did  immediately  convey  the  same  iuto  the  recesses  of  his  breeches 
pocket,  whereupon  Mr.  Free  Soil,  thinking  it  was  "  all  arranged," 
made  another  effort  to  progress,  when  he  was  once  more  de- 
tained by  the  facetious  Missourian,  who,  without  reflecting  that 
he  was  "  adding  insult  to  injury,"  was  so  impolite  as  to  apply 
the  end  of  his  thumb  to  the  tip  of  his  nose,  at  the  same  time 
extending  the  remaining  digits  and  gently  agitating  them  in  the 
air.  But  while  we  thus  digress,  Mr.  Free  Soiler  is  still  ten 
dollars  out  of  pocket,  and  only  half  captured  to  boot.  Not 
content  with  this  indignity,  the  Pro-Slavery  man  next  proceeded 
to  "  bag,"  a  la  South  Africa  Cummings,  the  person  of  Mr.  Free 
Soil,  and  carry  him,  will-I  nill-I,  into  General  Stickler's  camp, 


■  •  f 

90  AN  INDEPENDENT  VOLUNTEER. 

where  their  despondent  prisoner  arrived  in  a  most  miserable 
state  of  bodily  fear,  not  to  mention  mental  trepidation.  Here 
the  advocate  of  darkey  rights  was  placed  under  guard,  if  we  heard 
aright,  in  General  Stickler's  own  marquee.  He  had  not  been 
there  long,  before  one  of  his  captors,  the  ten  dollar  man,  ap- 
proached Gen.  Strickler,  who  was  standing  beside  his  quarters, 
when  the  following  decidedly  unmilitary  dialogue  ensued  between 
the  Brigadier  and  his  "  high  private:" 

High  Private. — General,  I  waut  the  prisoner  to  come  out 
hyar,  I've  got  some  of  the  old  cock's  money  and  want  to  give  it 
to  him. 

General. — It  can't  be  done,  sir,  I  can't  permit  him  to  come 
out,  but  I  can  pass  you  in. 

"  But  I  tell  you,  General  Strickler,"  urged  this  unabashed 
representative  of  the  citizen  soldiery,  "  I  must  see  him." 

How  the  General  settled  this  delicate  point  of  military  eti- 
quette we  are  unable  to  say,  but  certain  it  is,  that  when  captor 
met  captive,  the  former  handed  out  the  X,  with  a  "  Here,  old 
cock,  is  your  money,  I  dont  kear  about  it." 

It  is  reported,  that  before  P  — :  's  liberation  from  his  con- 
finement as  a  "  prisoner  of  war,"  in  the  Wakarusa  camp,  he  was 
overheard  talking  to  a  fellow-captive  who  had  been  brought  in 
that  day  (and  who  beiug  in  great  fear  of  his  life,  which  he 
already  considered  sacrificed  to  the  bloodthirstiuess  of  the  Bor- 
der Ruffians,  whom  the  Free  State  people  hold  to  be  little 
better  than  devils  without  horns,  was  shedding  tears  copiously), 
in  the  following  strain: 

"  Don't  be  alarmed,  my  dear  sir,  don't  be  alarmed.  You 
may  consider  yourself  as  being  now  in  the  very  safest  place  which 
this  section  of  the  country  can  afford." 

And  now  a  word  for  Lexington.  It  is  really  "considerable 
of  a  place  ;"  a  sort  of  nine  pound  baby  city,  healthy  and  likely 
to  grow,  with  perhaps  this  very  Western  drawback  that  "  the 


SUNDAY  AT  LEXINGTON. 


town  is  so  large  you  scarce  can  see  the  houses."  To-day,  Sunday, 
dawned  upon  it  gloriously,  uutil  even  the  leafless  trees  of  the 
broad  "Missouri  bottom,"  brightened  up  under  its  influence, 
and  as  the  pretty  (?)  girls  came  tripping  by  in  answer  to  "  the 
church-going  bell,"  we  fairly  caught  the  infection,  donned  our 
"Sunday-go-to-meeting"  gear,  got  a  nigger  to  re-touch  our 
boots,  slicked  our  whiskers  up,  and  our  hair  down,  and  theu, 
took  the  field,  armed  with  a  pocket  edition  of  the  "  Psalms  and 
Hymns,"  to  find  some  "  sect"  with  whom  to  fraternize  in  their 
worship,  and  we  were  not,  all  things  considered,  very  long  in 
accomplishing  it — a  result  which  was  effected  by  mingling 
with  a  "  living  stream,"  albeit,  somewhat  thin,  who  were  then 
on  their  way  to  be  "  refreshed  with  the  Word,"  as  it  is 
preached  by  the  Groaners,  a  branch  of  the  "Hard  Shells."  And 
verily,  "  in  all  our  rough  experience  of  harm,"  as  the  Yankee 
Skipper  has  it,  I  never  before  had  met  so  strange  a  "  meeting- 
house "  But  never  mind  an  exterior  description  ;  we  won't 
comment  upon  the  outside,  but  reserve  ourself  for  the  interior.  So, 
as  far  as  the  building  goes,  you  may  imagine  almost  any  sort  of 
oddity  that  you  please.  The  ancient  and  modern  styles  of 
architecture,  for  instance,  trying  to  cross  the  breed,  and  "  eventu- 
ating" a  monstrosity,  may,  perhaps,  be  not  very  far-out  of  the 
way.  This  "  particular  kind  of  Religionists,"  as  the  sermom  on 
"  a  Harp  of  a  thousand  strings "  has  it,  is,  we  understand, 
quite  fashionable  in  Missouri,  and  if  the  specimen  of  the  per- 
suasion which  we  beheld  in  Lexington,  be  a  fair  criterion,1  there 
must  be  a  deal  of  fun  in  them.  If  you  don't  believe  it,  my 
vinegar-faced  friend,  just  read  the  following,  and  judge  for  yourself : 
We  reached  the  church  (we  beg  the  church's  pardon,  meet- 
ing-house, we  should  have  said),  entered,  and  got  an  unnoticeable 
seat.  The  service  was  already  under  way  when  we  arrived,  for 
we  had  been  vain  enough  to  hold  on,  in  some  hope  of  creating 
a  sensation  among  the  rural  damsels  by  the  display  of  what  a 


92  THE  GROANERS. 


Missourian  would  call  "  store  clothes,"  "  which,  alas  !  have  si 
then  found  a  most  unnatural  end  in  Kansas     but  we  are  antic 
pating. 

Their  minister  was  certainly  a  study,  he  had  just  such 
face  aud  air  as  a  clever  artist  might  have  chosen  to  chai 
acterize  the  bell-wether  of  some  hill-hiding  Covenanter  floct 
In  short,  it  was  stern,  hard,  and  uncompromising.  Nor  wa 
his  garb  less  singular,  for  he  sported  (may  we  be  forgive 
for  the  phrase),  a  snuffy-brown  coat,  of  strange  and  ant 
quitted  cut,  which  bore  but  too  evident  tokens  of  long  and  no 
over  careful  usage.  The  continuations  were  of  yellow ish-gre; 
cloth,  with  stove-pipe  legs,  built  like  an  Irishman's  hurricane 
"  straight  up  and  down,"  and  encased  below  the  knees  i 
serviceable-looking  buckskin  riding-leathers,  well  stained  witl 
Missouri  mud  ;  add  to  these  a  pair  of  buffalo  overshoes,  a  sui 
prising  shirt  collar,  and  a  wonderfully  starched  linen  cravat 
whose  complicated  folds  and  puritanical  stiffness  would  hav 
broken  a  "  New  York  washerwoman's  heart  at  first  sight,"  am 
you  will  have  a  very  accurate  delineation  of  this  reverend  gen 
tleman's  outer  man.  We  must  not  forget,  however,  a  pair  o! 
wide-bowed  horn  spectacles  which  divided  their  time  betwee' 
the  top  of  his  venerable  head,  and  the  bridge  of  an.  independ 
ently  cocked-up  nose,  thereby  adding  not  a  little  to  the  grc 
tesqueness  of  this  somewhat  unclerical  tout  ensemble. 

The  text  we  have  forgotten,  for  we  always  forget  texts,  no 
can  tve  at  this  present  call  to  mind  the  precise  locality  in  whfel 
it  am  to  be  found,"  but  to  make  another  extract  from  tha 
much-quoted  discourse,  by  "the  capting  of  a  Mississippi  flat 
boat,"  "  It  air  to  be  discovered  in  the  leds  of  the  Scripters,  an< 
somewhar  between  the  book  of  Generations  and  the  book  ol 
Revolutions." 

As  for  the  "  sermonizing,"  it  was  literally  and  distinctly  som 
being  quite  a  la  Elder  Knapp,  or  in  other  words,  a  sort  of  un; 


PARSON  JONES  AND  DEACON  GRAVES. 


93 


ersal  raking  over  the  coals,  with  a  promise  of  a  bigger  fire  to 
orae,  for  not  going  to  prayer-meetings,  winding  up  with  a  spe- 
ia]  allusion  to  one  unlucky  night,  upon  which  the  parson  and  a 
3rtain  deacon  Ephraim  Graves  had  been  the  only  persons  "  on 
and,"'  a  shortcoming  which  proved  fatal  to  that  evening's  ex- 
cises, for  how  could  they  do  the  psalmody  in  an  orthodox  way, 
hen,  as  Parson  Jones  expressed  it,  "Deacon  Graves  couldn't 
ng  nary  lick,  and  he  himself  was  hoarser  nor  an  owl." 

A  lack  of  attention  to  the  Ten  Commandments  in  general,  and 
3  the  minister  in  particular,  was  also  a  theme  upon  which  our 
reacher  waxed  not  only  eloquent  but  personal.  But  to  give 
ou  a  "  taste  of  his  quality,"  we  will  select  a  few  "  elegant  ex- 
•acts,"  which,  as  they  caught  our  drowsy  ear,  between  a  suc- 
tion of  what  Eastern  matrons  call  "  cat  naps,"  yet  linger  in 
ir  memory,  and  we  are  the  more  inclined  to  quote  them,  as 
ley  are  not  only  very  peculiar  in  their  style,  but  withal,  a  fair 
cponent  of  a  certain  class  of  "hard  shell "  discourses,  which 
ive  long  been  popular,  and  it  may  be  serviceable  among  the 
rough  and  tumble  religionists "  of  the  primitive  Far  West 

ur  first  selection  runs  thus  : — 

"Yes,  my  sin-stricken  bretherin  and  sisters,  thar  Lord  only 
lows  how  I'm  to  bring  this  hyar  congregation  out  of  the  gall 
'  bitterness  and  the  bonds  of  iniquity  ;  whar's  the  sense  of  my 
rastlin's  in  prayar  ?  whar's  the  good  of  my  groanin's  in  sperit  ? 
har's  the  use  in  my  ridin'  down  hyar  every  Lord's  day  morn- 
',  an'  thar  corderoy  mighty  bad  at  that,  to  try  an'  save  these 
rar  sinners  from  the  brimstone  and  fire  as  is  to  come  ?  whar's 
ie  sense,  I  say,  my  bretherin  ?  for  I  tell  yeou  all,  an'  I  jest  al- 
w  that  thar  Lord  knows  it  too,  that  thar's  some  of  yeou  a  settiu' 
^ar,  that  dance  out  at  thar  toes  in  a  week,  all  thar  religion  that 
ar  minister  kin  hammer  inter  thar  heads,  let  alone  thar  hearts, 
ith  prar-meetin's,  and  preachin',  and  singin'  of  psalms,  through 
'hull  year  round.   Yes,  my  brethrein  and  sisters,  it's  thar  wick- 


94  A  HARD  SHELL  DISCOURSE. 

edness  of  Christmas  week,  thar  dancin',  and  thar  foolin',  an< 
thar  driukin'  and  thar  gamblin',  that  does  thar  devil's  work  hyar 
an'  whar  will  yeou  be,  my  bretherin  ?  yes,  whar  will  you  be,  1 
say,  when  Satan  comes  a  huntin'  his  own,  or  as  is  remarked  h 
thar  Scripters,  like  a  roarin'  lion  a  goin'  round  to  see  what  hi 
kin  devour  ?  take  kear,  my  bretherin,  take  kear." 

And  again — in  allusion  to  the  prayer-meeting  business  : — 
"  Whar's  the  good  in  invitin'  yeou  inter  prayar-meetin's,  whei 
yeou  air  always  excusin'  yeourselves  and  never  thar  ?  Ef  i 
war  a  corn-huskin',  wouldn't  yeou  be  thar  ?  Ef  it  war  a  keard 
playin'  party,  wouldn't  yeou  be  thar  ?  Well,  yeou  would  ;  anc 
I  jest  know  ef  it  war  a  hoss-race,  yeou'de  be  sure  to  be  thar 
But  how  is  it,  when  we  want  yeou  to  serve  thar  Lord,  and  cal 
on  yeou  to  "come  up  an'  help  us,"  are  yeou  thar  then?  Well 
yeou  ain't,  bretherin,  an*  why  ain't  yeou  ?  Why,  because  thai 
ain't  no  keards,  nor  quarter  horses,  nor  fiddles,  nor  dancin',  noi 
foolin'  with  the  gals,  that's  the  why.  An'  how  was  it  tothei 
night,  my  bretherin,  when  deacon  Graves  and  yeour  preacher  wai 
all  that  war  thar  ?  Well,  it  rained,  s'pose  it  did  ;  air  yeou  sugar 
or  air  yeou  salt  ?  and  wouldn't  yeou  hev  gone,  ef  yeou  had  bin 
sugar  or  salt,  ef  it  war  to  -i  frolic  ?  Well,  yeou  would.  Yeou're 
a  travellin'  thar  broad  road,  the  'hull  on  you  ;  it's  dreadful  nice 
now  ;  it  ain't  steep  and  hain't  got  no  ruts  inter  it,  but  yeou'de 
better  be  a  goin'  the  narrer  oue  ;  yes,  ef  it  war  all  corderoy  and 
hog- wallow,  yeou'de  do  well  to  be  a  goin'  of  it ;  for  when  thar 
folks  as  travel  it  air  a  shoutin'  glory,  an'  halleluya,  whar  will 
yeou  be  ?  A  wailin'  and  a  'nashin'  of  yeour  teeth,  tharh  whar." 
And  again  : — 

"  When  I  go  inter  thar  house  of  a  professor  of  religion,  an' 
see  thar,  thar  begammon  board,  and  thar  dice-box,  or  may-be,  a 
pack  of  keards  a  lyin'  on  thar  table,  I  allow  that  thar,  in  that 
house,  thar's  somethin'  wrong.  Do  yeou  see  them  air  things  in 
my  cabin,  my  bretherin,  or  in  Deacon  Graves's  cabin  ?  Well, 


Yeou're  a  travellin'  thar  broad  road  the  'hull  on  you;  it's  dreadful  nice  now;  it 
ain't  steep,  and  hain't  got  no  ruts  inter  it ;  but  yeou'd  better  be  a  goin'  the  narrer  one. 
Yes,  ef  it  war  all  corderoy  and  hog  wallow,  yeou'd  do  well  to  be  a  goin  of  it>" — Page  94 


KEARDS  AND  SUCH  LIKE.  95 

yeou  don't.  But  thar's  a  Bible  thar,  an'  a  hymn-book  thai,  an' 
a  sound  of  prayar,  an'  a  shout  of  thanksgivin'  thar.  Well,  thar 
is." 

Now  it  just  struck  us,  after  listening  to  this  very  un-common 
sense  harangue,  that  there  is  such  a  thing  as  checking  up  a 
horse,  whether  quadruped  or  biped,  a  little  too  tight,  and  further- 
more, one  might  imagine  that  in  a  new  country,  not  to  particu- 
larize the  State  of  Missouri,  a  parson  might  be  pretty  well  sat- 
isfied if  his  flock  fenced  in  their  consciences,  without  expecting 
them  to  " improve"  every  acre  of  the  land.  We  wonder  what 
the  reverend  man  would  have  said  to  our  New  York  hoops  and 
habits. 

And  so  endeth  our  Sunday  in  Lexington,  Mo. 


96 


OUR  AUTHOR  ENTERS  KANSAS. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


THE  FUNNY  SIDE. 


By  the  way,  it  might  be  amusing  enough  to  an  uninterested 
spectator  to  see  the  crowded  stages  as  they  come  in  from  the 
South  to  store  their  bedevilled  cargoes  in  the  "  City  Hotel," 
until  such  time  as  their  good  fortune — the  elements  and  the 
"  agent" — may  permit  them  to  proceed.  In  the  meanwhile,  was 
there  ever  such  a  "  merry  Bedlam  kicked  up"  by  any  one  set  of 
worried  mortals  before  ?  Such  complaints  ;  such  threats  of 
actions  and  damages ;  such  yarns  of  mud  knee-deep,  which 
almost  realize  the  waggish  idea  of  that  u  hat,"  with  its  submerged 
wearer,  and  the  "good  horse  under  him  j"  aud  then  such  stories 
of  travelling  vexations,  which  our  last  week's  travelling  expe- 
rience assures  us  are  but  too  true  ;  such  grumbling  ;  such 
growling  j  such  cursing  and  swearing.  Did  one  ever  hear 
the  like  ?  But  there's  some  fun  in  it  after  all  ;  indeed  there's 
fun  in  everything,  if  one  has  only  a  disposition  to  grasp  life  by 
its  smoothest  handle — from  that  introductory  joke  the  cradle  to 
that  gravest  of  all  grave  subjects,  the  grave ;  for  instance,  while  we 
sat  watching  the  "current  of  events"  in  the  smoky  sitting-room 
of  the  "  City"  to-day,  we  saw  a  broad-shouldered,  powerfully-built 
Missourian,  who  must  have  stood  about  six  feet  two  in  his 
stockings  (if  he  wore  any),  come  striding  into  the  hotel  ;  and 
our  eye  singled  him  out  at  once  as  one  who  had  evidently  seen 
harder  times  than  the  rest  of  his  travel-worn  fellow-passengers  ; 


I 


DROPPIN*'   A  STAGE  DRIVER.  97 

for  his  face  was  battered  and  bruised,  his  sinister  optic  con- 
siderably "  the  worse  for  wear,"  and  his  nose  particularly 
"  mapped  out."  We  watched  him  closely,  as  he  stepped  up  to 
the  bar  and  ordered  a  "  whisky  straight,"  with  all  the  air  of 
a  man  who  has  reached  comfort  at  last,  and  means  to  enjoy 
himself,  and  heard  him  say,  in  reply  to  some  bystander's  inquiry 
as  to  "  how  he  had  got  along  :" 

"  Got  along,  thunder  !  Waall,  stranger,  I  kin  jest  tell  yeou  that 
I've  hed  an  awful  time — what  yeou  mout  call  all  sorts  of  a 
time — fur  I've  bin  a  travellin'  thar  road  whar  those  dog- 
gauned  Dutchmen  live,  an'  thar  bound  to  crowd  yeou  ef  they 
git  a  chance  ;  but  jest  jump  a  few  on  em,  an'  thar  mighty 
apt  to  let  yeou  alone  ;  they  didn't  trouble  me  much,  I  allow — 
well,  they  didn't  ;  an'  that  air  ain't  all  'nother,  stranger  ;  I've 
whopped  a  few  stage-drivers  as  I  come  along — jest  a  few — 
somewhar  about  five,  I  reckon.  You  see  it  happened  this  way. 
I  jest  made  up  my  mind  to  lick  every  one  on  em  that  upsot 
thar  coach  ;  fur  it's  jest  liquor  and  dog-gauned  carelessness 
makes  em  do  it  anyhow — thar's  otic  on  em,  I  allow,  will  remem- 
ber me  ;  he  upsot  us  in  a  mud-hole  on  the  road  back  a  piece 
betwixt  hyar  an'  Boonsville.  I  got  out  when  the  old  mud-cart 
war  a  rolling  over,  and  I  felt  bad,  I  tell  yeou  some,  fur  my 
cousin,  a  young  gal  that  I  war  a  takin  kear  of,  got  hurt  con- 
siderable; so  as  I  reckoned  we  war  imposed  upon,  I  jest  stepped 
up  to  thar  driver  :  '  Look  a  hyar,  stranger,'  says  I,  '  I'm  a  thinking 
of  droppin'  yeou.'  Yeou'd  better  not  on  yeour  own  account,'  says 
he  ;  '  it's  agin'  the  law  to  whip  a  stage-driver  in  thar  State  of  Mis- 
souri. '  Dog-gaun  thar  laws  of  Missouri  an'  thar  stage-drivers, 
too,'  says  I  ;  and  about  that  time,"  added  the  man  who  had  seen 
"ail  sorts  of  a  time,"  parenthetically  (for  his  drink  had  been 
compounded  and  was  now  in  the  act  of  proving  itself  to  be  a 
"  whisky  straight "  by  taking  the  shortest  road  down  its  newpro- 


5 


98  THE  GRUFF  VOICE. 

prietor's  throat),  "  and  about  that  time,  stranger,  I  histed  him,  as 
I  should  reckon,  nigh  on  to  four  feet,  well  I  did." 

And  here  our  journalizing  at  Lexington,  for  Dec.  16th,  A^st 
give  place  to  extracts  from  our  log,  written  up  at  Westport,-.Mo. 
— which  is,  however,  but  half  a  mile  distant  from  the  frontier-line 
of  Kansas  Territory — on  the  night  of  the  17th. 

We  had  retired  to  rest  at  a  late  hour,  on  the  night  previous  to 
our  departure  from  Lexington,  in  the  blissful  expectation  of 
a  whole  night's  sleep  in  bed,  for  we  had  been  informed  by  the 
stage-agent  that  the  "stage  "  (for  we  were  promised  a  real  stage 
this  time),  in  which  we  were  going,  was  not  to  start  until  after 
breakfast  upon  the  ensuing  day  ;  imagine  then,  our  astonishment, 
to  say  nothing  of  our  consternation,  at  having  our  first  half-hour's 
sleep — for  we  had  sat  up  writing  until  after  midnight — broken  in 
upon  by  a  gruff  voice  and  a  tallow  candle,  which  admitted  them- 
selves by  the  door  of  our  apartment  at  the  somewhat  unusual  hour 
of  one  o'clock,  a.m.  We  were  so  very  sleepy  when  they  arrived,  that 
we  shouldn't  have  been  surprised  if  they  had  gained  an  entrance 
by  the  window.  The  gruff,  voice  said  :  "  The  nigger  tried  to 
wake  you,  sir,  but  you  slept  so  soundly  that  he  couldn't  ;  you 
must  be  quick  if  you  are  going  ;  the  stage  is  all  ready,  and  it's 
snowing  hard  and  having  delivered  itself  of  this  interesting 
communication,  the  gruff  voice  took  itself  out  again,  leaving  the 
tallow  candle,  by  way  of  substitute,  to  throw  some  light  upon 
our  getting  up  ;  and  such  a  getting  up.  Did  you  ever,  most 
amiable  reader,  turn  out  of  a  warm  bed — in  which  you  had  just 
succeeded  in  generating  a  sufficient  amount  of  animal  heat  to 
keep  yourself  comfortable — at  a  moment's  notice,  with  a  dis- 
agreeable journey  before  you  and  worse  coming  ;  with  the  mer- 
cury, like  your  spirits,  down  ;  a  driving  snow-storm  without  ; 
no  fire  within,  and  your  miserable  self  in  a  night-shirt  and — 
nothing  else  in  particular  ?  If  you  have,  sympathize  with  us.  We 


A  SOLEMN  FACT. 


99 


did  it,  though — after  an  almost  superhuman  effort  ;  turned  out, 
dressed,  woke  obliging  landlord,  paid  unobliging  Bill,  in  two  senses 
of  the  word — that  being  the  name  of  the  porter  ;  and  then  sallied 
forth,  carpet-bag  in  hand,  into  the  dark  night  and  wintry  gale,  to 
seek  the  spot  where  a  glare  of  lanterns  and  the  presence  of 
sundry  somnambulic  black  helpers,  who  looked  like  spirits  of  dark- 
ness amid  the  swiftly-falling  snow,  marked  out  the  position  of.the 
stage.  And  the  stage,  oh  !  would  you  believe  it  ?  the  stage  ! 
that  solemnly  promised  real  stage,  turned  out  to  be  but  another, 
and,  if  possible,  a  still  more  dilapidated  "  mud-cart,"  which 
looked  for  all  the  world  like  the  identical  vehicle  in  which  we 
had  rolled  out  from  St.  Charles,  that  is  to  say,  if  that  "  blessed 
institution  n  can  be  supposed  to  have  been  engaged  during  the 
period  which  had  elapsed  since  our  last  meeting,  in  a  succession 
of  disasters  from  which  it  didn't  appear  likely  to  recover.  But 
in  good  earnest,  and  all  joking  aside,  this  new  imposition  was 
what  you  might  call  a  solemn  fact,  for  it  had  been  rent,  and  torn, 
and  battered,  to  such  a  degree,  and  was,  moreover,  troubled  with 
so  many  complaints,  such  as  a  leaning  to  one  side,  and  a  weakness 
in  its  wheels,  not  to  dwell  upon  a  tongue,  which,  though  longer, 
was  not  half  as  serviceable  as  an  old  maid's,  that  it  became  a  matter 
of  pleasing  uncertainty  whether  the  mud-cart  would,  or  would 
not,  condescend  to  hang  together,  until  it  brought  us  to  Inde- 
pendence. But  as  the  stage  was  "going,  going"  and  almost 
"  gone,"  by  the  time  we  reached  it,  there  was  no  opportunity  for 
expostulation,  so  we  tumbled  in  and  kept  our  sorrows  to  ourself. 

And  oh  !  what  a  night — the  very  recollection  of  it  prompts 
us  to  breathe  a  prayer  that  we  "  never  shall  look  upon  its  like 
again,"  for  the  snow  fell,  and  the  wind  blew,  and  howled  amid  the 
road-side  forests,  until  the  increasing  storm  seemed  multiplied  into 
the  Retreat  from  Moscow,  or  Kane's  journey  to  the  Pole,  as  the 
icy  particles  came  pelting  in  through  every  nook  and  cranny — and 
their  name  was  legion — of  our  shackly  old  conveyance.  It 


iOO 


HOG-CRAZY. 


would  not  have  been  easy  to  frighten  us  into  better  behavior  by  any 
Miltonian  description  of  Pandemonium  at  that  time.  Oh  !  no — 
we  should  have  said,  "  How  are  you  ?"  to  brimstone,  and  "  Glad 
to  see  you,"  to  fire.  We  are  not  even  prepared  to  say,  that  we  should 
not  have  taken  the  Old  Harry's  warmest  claw,  had  he  proffered 
it  in  good  faith,  or  it  may  be,  have  gone  the  "  entire  animal," 
and,  like  Doctor  Faustus,  sold  out  altogether,  for  a  considera- 
tion, and  it  would  have  been  in  our  case,  neither  silver  nor  gold, 
but  what,  if  rumor  speaks  true,  might  be  a  much  easier  bargain 
for  Satan,  for  the  thing  we- wanted  most,  was  to  see  a  right  jolly 
blaze.  Nay,  we  would  even  have  accomplished  that  which  our 
:  greatest  general  found  difficult  to  perform,  by  facing  "a  fire  in 
our  rear,"  and  charging  the  enemy  right  gallantly  to  boot,  for 
through  the  dreary  hours  of  that  apparently  interminable  Decem- 
ber night,  we  suffered,  in  company  with  our  balance  of  six  inside, 
and  one  out,  quite  as  much  as  any  one,  if  we  except,  perhaps,  an 
Esquimaux,  ought  to  endure.  And,  oh  !  how  we  longed  for  day- 
light, and  wondered,  as  we  skirmished  for  room  with  our  neighbor's 
half-frozen  legs,  whether  the  dawn  would  ever  come,  until  at  length, 
in  our  despair,  we  lost  confidence  in  the  truthfulness  of  highly  res- 
pectable watches,  cursed  the  maker  of  the  Almanac,  and  even 
swore,  in  the  bitterness  of  our  heart,  that  the  State  of  Missouri  was 
as  far  behind  the  time  in  her  sun-rising  as  in  everything  else. 

But  after  all,  we  "  hadn't  ought  to  "  grumble,  for  the  long- 
wished  for  dawn  came  stealing  in  at  last,  and  9  o'clock,  a.  m. 
found  us  thawing  out,  under  the  moderating  influences  of  a  good 
fire,  and  what  we  have  elsewhere  termed  a"  bad  hog  breakfast," 
alias  "  four  bits  "  worth  of  "  choice  selections."  And  here  we 
may  remark  en  passant  (though  we  have  already  "cut  and  come 
again"  upon  this  subject),  that  Missouri  seems  hog-crazy.  The 
roads  are  blocked  up  with  swine  upon  their  travels,  while  little 
pigs  squeal,  and  venerable  porkers  grunt,  from  corn-field  and 
farm-yard,  until  the  very  air  grows  vocal  with  their  music.  It 


WESTPORT. 


101 


is,  moreover,  as  we  have  already  stated,  "  killing  time,"  and  as 
all  swineclom  is  but  pork,  the  flesh  of  these  hapless  beasts  is  served 
up  to  the  yet  more  unfortunate  traveller,  until  his  soul  sickens 
over  his  meat,  and  he  is  almost  ready  to  declare  himself  a  Jew,  if  he 
could  thereby  obtain  a  reasonable  excuse  for  rejecting  those  too 
—too  unctuous  fragments,  which  are  the  never-failing  accompani- 
ment of  every  road-side  meal.  But  adieu — a  long  adieu,  we 
trust,  to  the  hogs,  for  we  have  matters  of  greater  moment  to 
chronicle. 

Westport,  Monday,  December  \*lth. — We  have  passed  Inde- 
pendence, which  we  had  not  seen,  since  we  rode  up  to  its  brick 
tavern  at  two  o'clock  of  an  August  morning,  some  eight  years  ago; 
but  are  now,  as  the  date  indicates,  at  Westport,  a  flourishing 
town,  supported  for  the  most  part  by  the  Indian  and  Santa  Fe 
trade,  and  situated — oh  1  happy  thought  to  us — upon  the  very 
verge  of  the  Kansas  frontier.  We  are  at  last  within  striking 
distance  of  our  ultimate  object  ;  for  the  residence  of  His  Excel- 
lency, Governor  Shannon,  is,  or  has  been,  at  the  Shawnee  Indian 
Mission,  or  Manual  Labor  School,  distant  some  two  and  a-half 
miles  from  this  place,  where  we  had  hoped  to  have  talked  over 
the  "  Kansas  War "  with  the  Governor,  ere  this,  had  not 
His  Excellency  been  temporarily  absent  at  Lecompton,  a  new- 
born Kansas  city,  which  looks  uncommonly  well  upon  paper,  and 
which  we  hope  to  observe  for  ourself  ere  we  be  a  fortnight  older. 
The  Governor,  as  we  understand,  is  now  building  at  Lecompton, 
with  the  view  of  preparing  a  residence  for  his  family,  who  are  at 
present  residing  in  the  more  tranquil  State  of  Ohio. 

The  latest  bit  of  hear-say  intelligence,  in  regard  to  the  Kansas 
difficulties,  comes  to  us  to-day,  in  the  shape  of  a  statement,  made 
by  the  youthful  editor  of  a  Pro-Slavery  journal  (that  is  just 
about  to  be).  He  says,  that  all  parties  are  dissatisfied  with 
Shannon,  for  the  Governor  would  neither  let  the  Missourians 
"wipe  out"  the  Abolitionists  on  the  one  hand,  nor  would  he 


102 


A  GENEROUS  OFFER. 


permit  the  citizens  of  Lawrence  to  resist  Sheriff  Jones,  and  set 
the  Territorial  laws  at  defiance  upon  the  other,  or,  as  we  translate 
it,  he  committed  the  unpardonable  error  of  endeavoring  to  pre- 
serve peace  on  both  sides — about  as  difficult  a  task  to  accomplish, 
we  fancy,  in  the  bear-garden  state  of  things  then  existing  at 
Lawrence,  as  to  attempt  an  interference  between  man  and  wife, 
from  which  folly  from  which  may  our  good  angel  deliver  us. 

December  lSlh. — Though  we  still  date  from  Westport,  we  may 
be  congratulated,  for  we  have  not  only  seen,  but  entered  the 
"  promised  land."  Yes,  it  is  even  so,  for  our  host,  "  old  man 
Harris,"  as  he  is  familiarly  styled,  evidently  imagines,  thanks 
to  an  old  Army  Commission  of  ours,  and  to  something  which 
he  seems  to  have  picked  up  in  relation  to  our  having  come  out  special, 
that  we  are  at  the  very  least,  a  bearer  of  dispatches,  or,  per- 
chance, a  Minister  Plenipotentiary  to  the  Court  of  Shannon,  with 
documents  from  Washington  to  the  Governor,  containing  full 
powers  to  hang,  draw,  and  quarter,  every  Abolitionist  in  the  Terri- 
tory; so  he  opened  his  heart  toward  us,  and  although,  apparently 
not  given  to  generous  deeds,  has  offered  us  the  loan  of  his  private 
and  particular  mule,  a  clumsy,  ill-made  beast,  with  no  amiability 
of  character,  to  convey  us  to  Shawnee  Mission  (Governor 
Shannon's  residence),  where,  though  his  Excellency  was  absent, 
as  we  have  already  stated,  at  Lecompton,  we  could  obtain  ample 
information  in  regard  to  the  probable  duration  of  his  stay,  from  the 
employees  of  the  Manual  Labor  School.  We,  moreover,  desired 
to  carry  our  "  news  hunt,"  into  the  Indian  range,  and  post  our- 
self  up  in  relation  to  the  management,  working,  and  apparent 
results  of  the  Indian  educational  system,  as  pursued  in  these 
Missions,  or  labor  schools,  of  which  this  Shawnee  establishment 
is  most  probably  a  favorable  exponent. 

With  those  objects  in  view,  we  thought  proper  to  accept  the 
offer  of  our  good-natured  landlord,  who  forthwith  ordered  one 
of  "  his  niggers  "  to  parade  the  animal,  who  proved,  as  we  have 


WE  ENTER  KANSAS. 


103 


already  hinted,  upon  a  more  familiar  acquaintance,  to  be  an  ob- 
stinate, not  to  say  sulky  beast,  with  prodigious  ears,  and  a 
short  scraggy  tail.  We  mounted  gallantly,  however,  with  a  big 
stick  by  way  of  "  persuader,"  for  it's  no  use  trying  "  moral  sua- 
sion" with  a  mule,  "  Martin,  on  Animals,"  to  the  contrary,  not- 
withstanding. 

Upon  reaching  the  "  State  line,"  we  felt,  as  somebody  says, 
"  the  influence  of  the  scene."  So  we  reined  in  our  long-eared 
steed,  and  considered  the  fearful  responsibility  which  we  were 
about  io  incur.  We  might  be  treated  to  a  coat  of  tar  and 
feathers  ;  we  might  be  planted  in  the  miry  soil,  a  rich  vegetable 
mould,  of  the  Kansas  Bear  Garden,  in  which  case,  we  should 
undoubtedly,  have  been  carried  "  through  a  course  of  very  re- 
markable sprouts."  But  we  "  didn't  kear  ;"  we  summoned  up  our 
resolution,  knit  our  brow,  hit  the  mule  a  thundering  lick  upon 
the  ribs,  murmured  "  let  her  rip,"  and  then,  like  Mr.  Caesar  of 
old,  plunged  in,  accoutered  as  we  were,  to  Kansas  and  a  mud- 
hole.  The  mule  shy'd  ;  we  regret  it,  for  it  upset  our  dignity 
considerably  ;  we  have  since,  upon  mature  deliberation,  been  in- 
duced to  suppose,  that  the  beast  being  raised  in  Missouri,  was- a 
Pro-Slavery  mule,  which  would  very  naturally  account  for  her 
unwillingness  to  enter  Kansas. 

There  was,  we  are  compelled  to  admit,  no  particular  sensation 
as  "  Our  War  Correspondent "  crossed  the  line.  No  convulsions, 
no  earthquake  ;  the  trees  stood  firm,  ditto  the  log-cabins  ;  the 
mud  was  as  deep,  the  winter  wind  just  as  piercing  ;  in  fact,  the 
only  things  which  appeared  to  be  interested  in  our  entrance  were 
a  two-year-old  hog  (that  omnipresent  representative  of  the 
largest  commercial  interests  of  Missouri),  who  poked  his  inquis- 
itive snout  through  a  clurnp  of  wayside  bushes,  as  if  to  say, 
"  What  new  fool  comes  now  ?"  and  a  venerable  old  rooster,  who 
welcomed  us  with  a  crow,  which  we  were  fain  to  interpret  into 
an  omen  of  good  luck  to  come.    May  the  divinites  that  "  shape 


104 


WHIPPED  EITHER  WAY. 


our  ends  "  grant  it,  for  this  going  to  Kansas  in  troublous  times, 
to  get  the  war  news,  is  "skeary  business."  In  sober  earnest 
we  begin  to  feel  as  the  old  Connecticut  deacon  did  when  his  horse 
ran  away  down  hill  ;  "  he  trusted  in  Providence  until  the  breech- 
ing broke,  and  after  that  didn't  place  any  particular  dependence 
on  anything."  May  not  "  the  breeching "  be  almost  broken 
with  us  ?  Who  knows  ?  'Tis  a  fearful  thing  to  contemplate  ! 
Was  ever  newspaper  correspondent  in  such  a  fix  ?  Stop,  let's 
reconnoitre  our  position.  If  we  "crack  up"  the  Pro-Slavery 
men,  the  Free  Soilers  will  make  "  no  bones  "  of  us  in  Lawrence. 
If  we  abuse  the  Border  Ruffians,  we  shall  (even  without  the  stag- 
ing), never  escape  alive  from  the  State  of  Missouri,  and  if  we 
stride  the  fence,  and  don't  do  either,  we  shall  be  most  particu- 
larly blessed  by  both  parties,  and  for  aught  we  know  to  the  con- 
trary, by  the  New  York  Herald  into  the  bargain.  Well,  be 
it  so  ;  if  we  must  succumb,  we  must,  but  as  we  live  by  hog-meat 
and  bad  coffee,  we  will  kick  vigorously  to  the  last. 


MAS3A  JOHXSOX 


105 


CHAPTER  X 

THE    SHAWXEE   MAXUAL-LABOR  SCHOOL. 

Axd  now,  to  return,  or  rather  to  go  ahead,  we  pressed  on, 
and  after  some  two  miles  and  a  half  of  hard  trotting  travel, 
with  something  to  boot  from  taking  the  wrong  road,  "  hove  in 
sight,"  as  the  sailors  say,  of  the  Shawnee  Methodist  Mission, 
consisting  of  three  long  two-story  brick  buildings,  with  sundry 
cabins  and  out-houses,  which,  while  they  had  rather  a  dilapi- 
dated appearance,  looked  as  if  they  might  be  Western  comfort- 
able inside. 

Upon  reaching  the  board  fence  which  enclosed  a  sort  of  flower- 
garden,  just  in  front  of  the  Superintendent's  dwelling,  we  rode 
up  to  a  tying-post,  and  having  reined  in  our  mule,  who  was,  be 
cause  he  liked  it,  very  willing  to  stop,  we  dismounted,  hitched 
Long-ears  so  securely  that  he  couldn't  very  conveniently  run 
away,  and  then  proceeded  to  arouse  the  inmates  of  the  "  most 
responsible  looking  "  house,  but  as  our  knocking  called  forth  no 
reply,  save  the  growling  of  several  ill-looking  curs  of  low  degree, 
who  kept  up  a  dismal  racket  in  our  rear,  we  made  bold  to  walk 
in,  the  more  so  as  the  front  door  stood  invitingly  open  ;  but  we 
traversed  several  rooms,  got  out  of  the  back  door,  and  finally 
wandered  into  the  kitchen  ere  we  lighted  upon  anything  human, 
which,  however,  turned  up  at  last,  in  the  shape  of  a  voluble  old 
darky,  with  a  bullet  head,  and  elongated  heels,  who  informed  us 
that  "  Massa  Johnson"  (the  Superintendent  of  the  Mission), 
was  not  at  home,  and  would  not  be  back  until  night. 

5* 


106 


A  DUBERSOME  DARKEY. 


"  But  who  is  ?" 

"  Well,  dars  de  man  dat  takes  care  ob  de  place  wheu  Massa 
Johnson's  gwyne  away." 

"  Can't  you  find  him,  and  let  him  know  that  a  gentleman 
woul'd  like  to  speak  with  him  ?" 

"  Well,  dis  hyar  niggar's  mighty  busy  just  now,  massa,  s'pose 
I  mout  find  him,  though — 'spect  I  might  try,  but  I'm  duber- 
some  about  it." 

As  this  uncertainty  was  removed  by  a  quarter,  "  the  man  who 
took  kear  ob  de  place  "  was  found,  and  speedily  made  his  appear- 
ance. Upon  transferring  our  inquiries  to  him,  we  learned  that 
Governor  Shannon  was,  as  we  had  previously  understood,  at  Le- 
comptou,  some  fifty  miles  distant  from  Westport,  whither  he  had 
gone  to  buy  up  some  claims  ;  our  informant  added  that  the  gov- 
ernor's son  who  is  also  his  private  secretary,  and  the  Secretary 
of  State,  Mr.  Woodson,  were  with  him,  but  that  the  whole  pauty 
were  expected  back  in  the  course  of  a  few  days.  After  commu- 
nicating these  facts,  our  new  acquaintance,  who  seemed  a  plain 
well-meaning  sort  of  person,  and  a  strong  Pro-Slavery  man  into 
the  bargain,  invited  us  into  a  sort  of  sitting-room,  where  we 
will  venture  to  say  that  we  asked  him  as  many  questions  in  five 
minutes'  time,  as  if  he  had  been  undergoing  a  cross-examination  by 
a  Philadelphia  lawyer  (though  for  that  matter,  we  are  free  to 
confess  that  we  don't  exactly  see  why  a  legal  man,  because  he 
comes  from  the  Quaker  City,  should  be  any  keener  than  his  bre- 
thren of  the  long  robe,  elsewhere),  but  be  this  as  it  may,  here  fol- 
lows an  abridgment  of  the  information  elicited  by  our  inquiries. 

The  Shawnee  Manual  Labor  School  has  been  established  for 
nearly  twenty  years  ;  at  first,  under  the  fostering  care  of  the 
Board  of  Missions  for  the  Southern  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
in  connection  with  the  patronage  of  the  general  government. 
Latterly,  however,  as  the  institution  grew  better  able  to  support 
itself,  or  it  may  be,  as  Uncle  Sam  became  more  liberal,  that 


THE  MISSION  FARM. 


107 


amiable  old  gentleman  has  stood  sole  paymaster  ;  at  present, 
under  the  treaty  stipulations  with  the  Shawnee  Indians,  the 
school  receives  the  interest  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  at 
five  per  cent,  per  annum,  amounting,  of  course,  to  five  thousand 
dollars  ;  that  being  the  sum  appropriated  for  educational  pur- 
poses in  the  Shawnee  Nation.  To  this  income,  may  be  added 
the  earnings  of  the  very  large  farm  attached  to  the  mission, 
which,  at  this  time,  consists  of  fifteen  hundred  acres  of  fenced 
land,  of  which,  from  six  to  seven  hundred  acres  are  under  culti- 
vation. The  soil  being  a  rich  loam,  from  twelve  to  fifteen  inches 
in  depth.  During  the  past  year  they  have  raised  upon  this 
farm,  one  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  corn,  sixty  acres  of  which 
grew  eighty  bushels  of  grain  to  the  acre  (not  bad  that,  even  in 
Kansas),  and  one  hundred  acres  of  oats,  which  yielded  from 
thirty  to  forty  bushels  per  acre.  There  is,  also,  a  large  vegeta- 
ble garden,  and  they  have  two  hundred  and  fifty  head  of  cattle, 
who,  so  far  as  the  females  are  concerned,  are  very  like  the  Dutch- 
man's cow  of  notable  memory,  which  "  gave  very  goot  milk." 

The  Institution  is  under  the  direction  of  a  general  superinten- 
dent, a  school  superintendent,  and  his  assistant  (to  whom  we  are 
indebted  for  interesting  information),  and  a  farmer  who  oversees 
and  directs  its  agricultural  operations.  There  is,  also,  a  superin 
tendent  of  the  boarding-house,  who  was  our  informant  in  regard 
to  many  matters  connected  with  his  own  department,  as  well  as 
in  relation  to  the  history  (for  he  is  an  old  settler)  of  the  mission. 

The  buildings,  as  we  have  before  stated,  consist  of  thin,  long, 
two-story  brick  houses,  not  very  substantially  built,  and  from  pre- 
sent appearances,  considerably  in  need  of  repair.  As  a  summer 
residence  they  mi^ht  be  moderately  comfortable,  but  as  a  winter 
one,  and  particularly  in  severe  weather,  they  are,  owing,  I  should 
say.  to  the  shiftless  way  in  which  things  appear  to  be  managed, 
a  most  undesirable  home.  The  arrangement  too,  for  persons 
lodging  there,  are  bad,  as  the  boarding-house  proper  is  some  fifty 


108 


THE  SHAWNEE  RESERVE. 


yards  distant  from  the  dining-room  or  rather  kitchen,  in  which 
the  inmates  take  their  meals.  The  children's  school-house  and 
dormitories  are  open  to  the  same  criticism,  being  about  twice 
that  distance  from  the  main  building. 

This  mission  is  located  upon  the  "  Shawnee  Reserve,"  a  tract 
of  land  some  twenty-four  miles  in  width,  by  thirty  long,  which  is 
secured  to  the  nation  by  their  final  treaty  with  the  United 
States  government.  This  treaty  gives  two  hundred  acres,  as 
soon  as  its  survey  is  fully  completed,  which  is  expected  to  be 
the  case  by  the  1st  of  July  next,  to  each  Shawnee  Indian, 
whether  man,  woman,  or  child.  These  tracts  are  to  be  selected 
by  the  parties  concerned,  as  nearly  as  possible  to  the  vicinity  of 
the  individual's  present  residence  in  the  Shawnee  Indian  Terri- 
tory. The  choice  to  be  made  and  declared  within  sixty  days, 
or,  as  other  authorities  say,  ninety,  from  the  conclusion  of  the 
government  surveys.  Thirty  thousand  acres  are  to  be  reserved 
for  non-resident  Shawnees,  who  may  come  in  to  claim  their  share. 
The  remnant  of  this  (once  powerful)  tribe,  now  resident  upon 
the  Reserve,  amounts,  all  told,  to  about  seven  hundred  and  fifty 
souls.  The  remainder  of  the  "  Shawnee  Reserve  "  will  then,  if 
we  understand  the  matter  rightly,  be  thrown  iuto  the  market  to 
become  subject  to  locations  at  the  usual  government  price 
($1,25  per  acre).  In  view  of  these  facts,  we  have  been  inform- 
ed that  a  secret  society  has  been  organized  in  Missouri,  or 
rather  in  certain  border  counties  of  that  State,  for  the  purpose 
of  settling  the  whole  of  this  tract,  as  soon  as  it  is  made  liable 
to  entry,  with  bona  fide  Pro-Slavery  settlers.  This  society,  we 
learn,  numbers  nearly  eight  hundred  men,  who  are  pledged  to 
each  other  to  do  all  in  their  power  to  make  Kansas  a  slave 
State,  and  to  support  the  peculiar  institutions  of  the  South.  We 
hear  that  they  have  already  made  very  favorable  arrangements 
with  the  Shawnees,  as  to  the  entry  of  these  lands.  This  club 
may  be  regarded  as  an  humble  imitation,  which  will,  however, 


RED-SKINS  AT  SCHOOL. 


109 


in  all  probability,  accomplish  quite  as  much  as  its  progenitor, 
the  Massachusetts  Aid  Society. 

The  number  of  children  at  present  under  instruction  in  the 
Manual  Labor  School  is  about  forty  of  both  sexes  ;  among 
these  are  some  half-a-dozen  Wyanclots  and  one  Arapahoe. 
Some  of  these  children  are  orphans,  placed  here  by  their  guar- 
dians, others  have  parents  residing  upon  the  Reserve.  But  few 
of  these  Indians  are  full-blooded,  yet  the  physical  peculiarities 
of  their  race  seem  strongly  marked  in  each  ;  the  dark,  restless 
eye,  the  prominent  cheek-bone,  the  straight,  coarse  black  hair, 
and  pigeon-toed  gait  being  visible  in  all. 

These  children  pay  seventy-five  dollars  per  annum  each,  to  the 
superintendent,  as  a  receipt  in  full  for  board,  washing,  and  tui- 
tion. Their  instructor  assures  us  that  they  will  compare  favor- 
ably, in  mental  capacity,  with  the  same  number  of  ordinary, 
every-day,  non-precocious  children  at  the  North.  They  speak, 
as  a  general  thing,  no  language  but  their  own  upon  entering  the 
school  ;  the  first  care  of  their  instructor  is,  therefore,  to  teach 
them  English  ;  this  they  soon  learn  to  speak  well,  though  a 
slight,  yet  not  unpleasant  accent  seems  in  almost  every  case  to 
betray  their  foreign  birth.  As  children,  they  are  playful  out  of 
doors,  romping  with  each  other  in  very  un-Indian-like  style, 
while  in  school  they  appear  to  be  quite  as  mischievous  as  the 
offspring  of  the  pale  face.  If  they  misbehave,  the  system  of 
discipline  is  nearly  the  same  as  that  formerly  in  vogue  in  New 
England.  They  do  not,  however,  care  much  for  any  species  of 
punishment,  save  that  of  the  rod,  a  peculiarity  which  is  appreci- 
ated by  their  teacher,  who  is  a  firm  believer  in  that  portion  of  the 
wisdom  of  Solomon,  which  says,  "  spare  the  rod  and  spoil  the 
child."  The  branches  taught  are  those  necessary  to  a  good  Eng- 
lish common- school  education. 

Their  daily  routine  of  life  is  as  follows — at  five,  a  m.,  they 
arp  awakened  by  the  ringing  of  a  bell,  when,  if  it  be  summer, 


110 


COPPER  COLORED  YOUNGSTERS. 


they  do  light  work  about  the  farm  until  seven  o'clock,  when 

they  breakfast,  a  horn  being  blown  by  way  of  signal  before  each 
meal,  which  gives  them  ample  time  for  preparation  (if  in  the  win- 
ter-time, their  morning  work,  before  eating,  is  confined  to  the  pre- 
paration of  fuel,  milking  the  cows,  some  thirty  or  forty  in  all,  and 
feeding  the  stock).  At  nine,  the  school-bell  summons  them  to 
their  studies,  which  are  kept  up,  with  a  short  interval  for  recess, 
until  twelve,  m.  They  dine  between  twelve  and  one  o'clock, 
and  then  resume  their  mental  pursuits  until  four.  Their  tea- 
hour  is  six,  p.m.,  and  their  evenings  are  spent  in  the  prepara- 
tion of  lessons  for  the  eusuing  day  until  eight  o'clock  ;  they  are 
then  allowed  to  indulge  themselves  in  in-door  recreation,  until 
half-past  eight  sends  them  to  their  dormitories  for  the  night. 
The  only  religious  services  which  are  held  during  the  week  are 
the  reading  of  a  chapter  in  the  Bible,  followed  by  prayer,  just 
previous  to  the  morning  and  evening  meals.  Saturday  "fore- 
noon "  is  devoted  to  work,  the  afternoon  is  a  holiday,  and  the 
evening  is  spent  in  the  bath-room  in  "  cleaning  up  for  Sunday." 
The  Sabbath  is  devoted  to  devotional  services. 

As  regards  general  character  and  temperament,  the  Indian 
pupils  are  accounted  as  generally  docile,  teachable,  and  good- 
natured.  When  sick,  they  are  stupid  and  silent,  have  much  fear, 
are  easily  depressed,  and  sink  more  rapidly,  when  prostrated  by  dis- 
ease, than  the  white.  They  quarrel  but  little  among  themselves  ; 
in  their  juvenile  attachments  they  appear  to  have  a  greater 
"  affinity  "  for  members  of  their  own  tribe,  and  would,  we  are 
told,  resent  an  insult  more  quickly  if  coming  from  a  child  belong- 
ing to  another.  Indolence  is  their  greatest  and  most  beset- 
ting sin. 

In  the  little  Arapahoe  we  felt  particularly  interested,  as  he  is 
a  full-blooded  Indian,  who  came  to  the  Institution  as  wild  as  a 
hawk,  when  he  could  speak  but  a  very  few  words  of  English, 
and  even  these  had  been  learned  upon  his  way  thither  from  a 


THE  LITTLE  ARAPAHOE. 


Ill 


white  man,  who  had  accompanied  him  from  the  hunting  grounds 
of  his  tribe.  The  date  of  this  juvenile's  reception  into  the  school, 
was  the  27th  of  October,  1855,  and  in  three  days  after  his 
admission,  he  knew  his  letters  perfectly — his  teacher  tells  us  that 
he  now  spells  readily  in  words  of  one  syllable. 

As  regards  their  table — for  we  had  not  time  to  inspect  the 
dormitories,  we  should  say  that,  so  far  as  quantity  is  concerned, 
the  children  fared  remarkably  well  ;  though  the  cookery,  to  our 
taste,  was  little  better  than  an  illustration  of  that  oft-quoted 
proverb,  which  talks  of  Heaven's  sending  the  raw  material,  and 
Satan's  providing  those  who  dress  it.  Of  this  we  were  well 
able  to  judge,  as  we  had  dined  at  the  board  of  these  "  children 
of  the  Red-men,"  or,  to  speak  more  correctly,  at  one  just  like  it, 
which  is  common  to  the  superintendent  and  his  family,  as  also 
to  visitors,  and  the  other  officers  and  employees  of  the  Institution. 
All  things  considered,  however,  these  little  aborigiues  may  regard 
themselves  as  being  extremely  fortunate  ;  for  we  could  not  but 
contrast  their  living  favorably  with  our  own  early  recollections 
of  the  "  fashionable  boarding  school  starvation  system,"  which 
is  but  too  frequently  tolerated  at  the  East. 

The  superintendent  of  the  boarding-house  informs  us  that 
workshops  were  formerly  attached  to  the  Mission,  where  the 
pupils,  in  addition  to  their  daily  routine  of  studies,  learned  vari- 
ous trades.  These,  however,  have  of  late  years  been  discon- 
tinued, as  it  was  thought  better  for  the  intellectual  advance- 
ment of  the  children,  that  their  minds  should  not  be  too  much 
diverted  from  their  books.  They  are  not,  for  a  similar  reason, 
allowed  to  labor  in  the  field  or  do  any  other  than  light  work  upon 
the  farm.  (It  occurs  to  us  that  there  might  be  another  object  in 
,this  prohibition,  which  is,  to  prevent  a  dishonest  or  interested 
superintendent  from  following* the  example  of  that  amiable  peda- 
gogue, Wackford  Squeers,  who  pursued  the  very  practical  system 
at  his  delightful  academy  for  young  gentlemen  at  Dotheboy's 


112.  AMALGAMATION. 

Hall,  where  youth  "  were "  boarded,  washed,  furnished  with 
pocket-money,  &c.  of  teaching  a  boy  a  thing,  and  then  fixing 
it  upon  his  memory  by  letting  him  go  out  and  do  it.) 

These  very  general  facts,  in  relation  to  Shawnee  Mission  and 
its  Manual  Labor  School,  are  gathered  in  part  from  our  own 
observation,  for  with  true  Yankee  curiosity  we  visited,  in  oui 
pursuit  of  facts,  the  school-room,  where  we  saw  the  Indiat 
children  at  their  desks,  and  heard  them  recite,  and  we  car 
assure  the  reader,  that  (physical  peculiarities  excepted),  thej 
seem,  to  our  eyes,  to  differ  but  little  from  any  "  district  school' 
interior,  which  educates  the  juveniles  of  some  New  England 
village,  amid  the  green  valleys  of  Connecticut,  or  the  rocky  hill; 
of  the  old  "  Bay  State."  For  we  saw  one  youngster  munching 
an  apple,  with  an  occasional  side-look  at  the  master  and  his  rod 
another  doing  anything  but  a  sum,  unless  the  sum  had  a  nos( 
and  a  mouth,  with  a  crest  of  eagle's  feathers  upon  its  head 
while  a  third  tried  hard  to  post  up  her  neighbor,  a  very  stupid 
looking  Shawnee,  as  to  the  correct  reading  of  some  forgottei 
arithmetical  rule,  while  the  urchin  in  question  stood  scratching 
his  head,  and  looking  woefully  perplexed,  as  he  tried  in  vain  t( 
catch  the  muttered  information  in  time  to  answer  promptly. 

Finally,  then,  as  touching  the  interior  economy  of  the  Shawne* 
Mission,  this  school  is  said  to  have  done  a  vast  amount  of  gooc 
among  the  Indians,  for  whose  benefit  it  has  been  instituted 
We  are  informed  by  those  interested  in  the  establishment,  tha 
a  number  of  the  female  pupils  who  have  grown  up  and  receive( 
their  entire  education  at  the  Mission  (for  there  are  several  ol 
them),  have,  on  graduating,  married  well.  Some  of  them  t< 
white  men,  and  in  their  after  lives  done  credit  to  its  training 
apropos  to  this,  we  understand  that  a  relative  of  the  presen 
superintendent  (Mr.  Johnson),  was  united  in  matrimonial  bond 
with  one  of  these  fair  descendants  of  the  very  oldest  inhabi 
tants,  not  many  months  ago. 


SHAWNEE  BELLES.  113 

And  here  we  may  remark,  that  so  far  as  our  own  taste  in  such 
matters  goes,  although  some  of  the  Shawnee  girls,  now  members 
of  the  school,  are  called  pretty,  we  have  as  yet  been  unable  to 
discover  this  alleged  beauty  in  these  copper-colored  damsels. 
Their  manner  of  walking,  for  instance  ;  is  ridiculous,  indeed  it 
was  with  the  greatest  difficulty  that  we  refrained  from  laughing 
outright,  as  we  saw  them  file  out  (on  a  signal  rap  from  their 
teacher's  fork),  at  the  dining-room  door,  for  the  only  thing 
which  we  can  think  of  as  approximating  to  their  peculiar  gait, 
might,  perhaps,  be  a  lame,  and  very  short-legged  duck,  if  you 
can  suppose  so  common  sense  a  bird  to  be  attempting  an  imita- 
tion of  the  last  fashionable  "  teter  "  for  young  ladies.  Add  to 
this,  that  they  stoop,  have  round  shoulders,  no  figure  at  all, 
and  "too  much  color"  in  their  faces,  and  then  if  you  be  a 
connoisseur,  sing  their  praises,  if  you  please — a  la  Longfellow's 
"  Hiawatha," 


114 


DRUNK-IN-A-BLANKET. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

RED-SKINS  AND  INDIAN  YARNS. 

The  people  of  the  Shawnee  Nation,  particularly  those  whc 
have  been  educated  at  the  Mission,  are  said  to  be  industrious, 
hard-working  farmers  ;  and  as  a  general  thing,  peaceable,  law- 
abiding  citizens.  As  a  practical  commentary  upon  which,  it  is 
pretty  generally  admitted,  that  some  nine  or  ten  of  their  "  war- 
riors "  tendered  their  valuable  services  as  "  fighting  men"  to  the 
good  people  of  Lawrence,  during  the  late  difficulties  ;  and 
on  dit  that  a  portion  of  the  Delawares,  with  a  number  of  the 
Sacs  and  Foxes,  followed  this  very  "  law-abiding  "  example.  As 
to  the  "Delaware  offering,"  they  are  said  to  have  been  such  enthu- 
siastic Free  State  sympathizers,  that  a  few  of  them  insisted  upoD 
going  to  Lawrence,  where  they  remained  about  town  "  talking 
big,  and  drinking  whisky,"  so  as  to  be  on  hand  if  Pro-Slaverj 
and  Free  Soil  should  come  to  loggerheads.  It  is,  however,  but 
justice  to  the  people  of  Lawrence  to  add,  that  they  (in  cominoi: 
with  the  Pro-Slavery  party,  to  whom  other  Indians  offered  theii 
cooperation),  declined  to  accept  the  assistance  of  these  volun- 
teer aids. 

In  other  matters,  as  regards  their  character  and  moral  pro 
divides,  we  can  but  judge  from  a  very  superficial  observation  ol 
such  "  S2oecimensv  as  chance  threw  in  our  way,  and  these  usuall} 
turned  up  in  the  shape  of  something-drunk-in-a-blanket,  with  i 
very  loud  voice,  and  a  very  guttural  notion  of  using  it.  Tli< 


INDIAN  ECCENTRICITIES. 


115 


nissionaries  speak  favorably  of  them,  and  we  are  not  disposed 
;o  gainsay  either  the  honesty  of  these  gentlemen,  or  their  supe- 
•ior  opportunities  for  becoming  acquainted  with  the  fact  ;  but 
,ve  do  declare  that  if  an  inquirer  should  say  to  us,  "  Mr.  Corres- 
pondent, what  do  you  think  of  the  proclivities  of  the  Shawnee 
Nation  V  we  should  answer  candidly  :  "  Very  bad."  For  if 
nedical  men  speak  the  truth,  a  great  proportion  of  the  Indian 
yomen  in  Kansas,  not  only  want  chastity,  but  are  afflicted  with 
liseases,  so  loathsome,  that  modern  prudery  forbids  that  we 
ihould  even  give  them  a  name.  One  physician,  indeed,  remarked 
o  us.  that  he  regarded  a  visit  which  a  party  of  the  Caws  had 
•ecently  paid  his  town,  a  very  small  one,  by  the  way,  as  being 
mite  a  handsome  sum  in  his  pocket  ;  "  For,"  said  he,  "  they 
:amped  near  us,  stayed  two  months,  and  increased  my  practice 
:>y  nearly  four  hundred  dollars. "  And  if  merchants  are  to  be 
redited,  a  respectable  pickpocket,  with  a  good  city  reputation, 
hould  bear  a  very  fair  character  among  an  assemblage  of  these 
•opper-colored  braves.  It  is  reported,  for  instance,  that  a  Caw 
vill  steal  the  blanket  off  your  back,  while  you  are  saying  how- 
lo-ye-do,  to  him  ;  and  unless  Dame  Rumor  do  some  of  the  Sacs 
nd  Foxes  foul  injustice,  your  eye-teeth  would  not  be  safe  in  your 
:cad,  should  any  of  these  amiable  gentlemen  take  a  fancy  to 
hem.  Apropos  to  these  little  thievish  traits  of  Indian  character, 
.  gentleman  from  Lecompton  tells  us  that  it  is  no  uncommon 
lung  among  "the  traders,"  for  a  red-skinned  customer  to  enter 
.  store  with  plenty  of  money  in  his  pocket,  make  his  purchases, 
nd  then  turn  coolly  round  and  inform  the  individual  from  whom 
ie  has  bought,  that 

"  Me  no  money  now — bimeby  kill  deer — squaw  dress  skin — 
ell  'em — then  Ingin  plenty  money — then  come  pay." 

"  Well,  but  what  does  the  trader  do  then — will  he  wait  ?" 
ueried  we. 

"  Do  1"  said  my  informant,  "  why,  he  upsets  him,  pulls  off  his 


116 


MAJOR  RAMROD'S  ADVENTURE. 


blanket,  takes  away  his  money,  helps  himself  to  his  due,  an< 
then  lets  Mr.  Indian  walk  with  the  balance,  if  there  be  any  i 

his  favor." 

Since  we  are  upon  this  very  original  subject,  we  may  as  we 
relieve  ourself  of  a  frontier  yarn  or  two  which  we  have  picke 
up  among  the  Indian  agents.  The  first  of  these  was  related  t 
us  by  a  friend  whom  we  shall  call  Major  Ramrod,  for  want  of 
less  military  sobriquet,  who  used  to  tell  the  story  as  a  veritabi 
extract  from  his  own  personal  experiences,  while  acting  as  th 
Government  Indian  Agent  for  a  certain  tribe  who  (as  we  wis 
to  preserve  his  incognito),  shall  be  nameless.    It  runs  thus  : 

;  Some  two  years  ago,  in  the  course  of  an  official  tour,  I  ha 
occasion  to  visit,  for  the  first  time,  a  remote  portion  of  the  tribi 
over  whose  interests  I  held  jurisdiction.  I  had  ridden  hard,  bi 
the  way  was  long,  and  it  was  not  until  the  close  of  a  warn 
sultry,  August  day  that  I  approached  the  creek,  or,  as  they  ca 
it  in  the  Territory,  river,  on  which  the  Indians  with  whom 
desired  to  confer  were  encamped.  Upon  trotting  up,  howeve 
to  their  lodges,  or  temporary  shelters,  which  had  been  erecte 
upon  the  edge  of  the  prairie,  and  outside  the  timber  of  the  '  riv( 
bottom,'  I  found  no  one  to  answer  my  call  ;  for  though  tb 
fires  were  lighted,  and  a  piece  or  two  of  deer-meat  basting  ove 
the  coals,  their  camp  seemed  deserted,  save  by  two  or  thre 
mangy,  ill-favored  curs,  who  yelped  spitefully,  but  at  a  mo: 
respectful  distance,  as  I  rode  in.  Judging,  however,  from  thes 
signs  of  recent  occupation,  that  those  whom  I  sought  must  b 
somewhere  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  I  dismounted,  and  havin 
hobbled  my  mule,  turned  her  loose  to  graze,  while  I  sat  down  t 
await  the  return  of  the  Indians.  Of  this,  however,  I  soon  weariec 
for  as  you  know,  solitude  doesn't  agree  with  me,  nor  is  Robinso 
Crusoe-ism  my  forte,  so  it  was  not  long  ere  I  turned  my  back  upo 
the  lodges,  and  strolled  leisurely  towards  the  heavy  timber  whic 
marked  the  location  of  the  stream,  through  which,  after  som 

%'  •  %  ml 


BEAUTY  UNADORNED. 


in 


ainbering  over  fallen  logs,  and  an  occasional  botheration  from 
slew,  I  finally  made  my  way,  and  was  already  in  sight  of  its 
ood-embowered  waters,  wlien,  mingled  with  the  rippling  of  the 
viftly-flowing  tide,  I  fancied  that  I  heard  a  distant  shout,  and 
?  I  paused  to  listen,  it  was  repeated  with  an  unction  which  made 
le  presence  of  some  near  neighbors  no  longer  a  matter  for  ques- 
od  ;  so  following  the  direction  of  the  sound,  as  I  was  guided 
f  its  reiteration,  I  passed  on,  until  a  sudden  bend  in  the  river 
rought  me  full  in  view  of  about  as  primitive  a  bathing-party  as 
id  ever  been  gotten  up  since 

"The  good  old  days  of  Adam  and  of  Ere," 

es,  there  they  were,  papoose,  and  squaw,  and  warrior  bold,  all 
isily  engaged,  though  up  to  their  necks  in  the  stream,  in  kicking 
d  a  pow-wow,  that  reminded  me  strongly  of  some  fashionable 
ach-scenes,  which  I  have  witnessed,  during  1  the  season/  at 
ewport  and  Cape  May. 

"  But  to  my  tale — it  required  but  a  glance  at  these  copper-eolor- 
l  bathers,  to  assure  me  that  the  whole  party  was  in  that  very  un- 
ual  condition  which  is  most  decently  expressed  by  intimating 
at  they  were  in  a  '  state  of  nature,'  and  furthermore,  that 
e  softer  sex  was  largely  represented,  and  being — don't  laugh — 
iite  a  modest  man,  at  least  in  those  days,  I  was  for  retreating 
th  all  convenient  speed,  until  these  fair  belles  of  the  wilder- 
ss  could  find  time  to  make  a  more  elaborate  toilet  ;  but  as  I 
rued,  like  Joseph  of  old,  to  shame  Satan  and  fly,  my  ears  were 
luted  with  a  sound  of  hi  !  hi  !  coupled  with  some  unpronoun 
ble  gutturals,  which  signified,  as  I  afterwards  learned, "  Brother, 
10  are  you  ?"  This  degree  of  relationship,  however,  was  in- 
untly  changed,  upon  their  discovering  who  I  was,  into  a  cry 
•  "How  do  you  do,  father?"  that  being  the  title  (our  friend 
\s  about  two  and  thirty  years  of  age),  by  which  the  Indian  is 
customed  to  address  the  agent  of  his  tribe.    But  the  courte- 


118  OUTRAGED  DIFFIDENCE. 

sies,  alas  !  were  not  destined  to  terminate  here  ;  no,  they  soo 
let  me  understand  that  they  would  give  me  a  still  warmer  we 
come,  and  verily,  if  a  popular  agent  was  ever  received  with  t 
the  honors  by  his  charge,  I  certainly  was  that  day.  For,  im 
gine  my  feelings,  my  outraged  diffidence,  perhaps  (quit  yo 
laughing  now)  I  should  rather  say,  when  I  tell  you  that  t 
redskins,  one  and  all,  matrons,  wives,  and  maidens  included — t 
latter,  between  you  and  me,  being  foremosu  in  the  race — serai 
bled  out  of  the  creek,  and  then,  all  unaccoutered  as  they  wer 
with  their  huge  mouths  full  of  guttural  welcomes,  and  not  a  n 
upon  their  sun-tanned  backs,  they  rushed  into  my  arms  and  a 
most  smothered  me  with  a  succession  of  embraces  which  left  d 
dripping  like  a  newly-washed  Newfoundland  dog,  and  as  fc 
the  Eve-like  squaws — but  I  draw  a  veil  over  my  sensations- 
come,  let's  step  into  the  grocery  and  take  something-  to  drink. 

Having  imbibed,  the  Major  next  proceeded  to  enlighten  us  e 
to  his  "adventures"  upon  returning  to  the  Indian  camp,  with 
distinct  understanding,  however,  that  the  female  barbarians  ha 
gotten  their  rigging  on  in  the  meanwhile,  or  we  should  bav 
most  respectfully  _  declined  to  jot  down  another  of  our  frien 
Ramrod's  "  little  incidents." 

"  I  presume  that  you  know  something  of  Indian  cleanliness 
if  you  don't,  and  should  ever  think  of  returning  to  the  Rock 
Mountains,  I  should  advise  you  to  keep  clear  of  their  cooker 
at  least  until  it  is  upon  the  board,  and  even  then,  if  you  wi 
take  1  pot  luck '  with  them,  don't  scrutinize  the  platters,  an 
above  all,  use  your  own  table  tools,  come  what  may." 

We  intimated  to  the  Major  that  we  had  once  dined  with 
Eutaw  chief,  off  a  "notch  potch"  of  stewed  grass-hopper?  au 
lizard's  tails  ;  and  Ramrod  went  on, 

"  Well,  I  reckon  then,  as  you  have  travelled  some,  that  I  ma 
run  the  risk  of  spoiling  your  supper  by  relating  the  first  of 
number  of  annoyances  which  bedevilled  me  during  my  stay  i 


HARD  TO  SWALLOW. 


119 


what  I  shall  name,  for  convenience  sake,  the  Bathing  Indians' 
^amp  ;  for  you  "must  know  that,  upon  my  return  to  their  lodges, 
[  found  myself  somewhat  fatigued  from  the  excess  of  hospitality 
which  I  had  so  recently  undergone,  and  being  thirsty  withal,  I 
jegged  one  of  the  squaws  to  give  me  a  drink  of  water — " 

(Here, we  looked  up,  and  having  closed  our  right  eye,  threw 
)ur  head  a  little  to  that  side,  gave  a  long  whistle,  and  at  the 
:ame  time  pointed  significantly  with  our  thumb  over  the  left 
houlder.) 

"  Well,  can't  you  wait  until  I  have  finished  the  sentence  ?" 
ried  Ramrod,  half  peevishly,  in  answer  to  this  pantomimic  inter- 
aption  ;  "  come,  don't  be  poking  fun  at  a  man  until  he  gets 
hrough  ;  I  didn't  say  that  I  intended  to  take  it  raw  ;  but  you've 
ut  me  out  ;  let  me  see,  where  was  I  ?  Oh,  now  I  recollect,  I  had 
ust  asked  the  squaw,  a  good-looking  half-breed  by  the  way,  to 
et  me  some  cold  water.  So,  being  an  obliging  girl,  she  half  filled 
small  tin  pail  with  the  element  and  placed  it  beside  the  buffalo- 
)be  on  which  I  was  placidly  reclining.  I  had  taken  up  this 
ater-holder  and  was  just  in  the  act  of  qualifying  it  with  a  mod- 
um  of  prime  old  rye  whisky  from  my  '  private  tickler,'  when  it 
ruck  me  that  the  tin  pail  might  be  a  great  deal  cleaner ;  so  I 
ade  bold  to  suggest  an  amendment  in  this  respect,  to  the  cop- 
;r-colored  damsel,  who  forthwith  emptied  the  pail  and  was 
iping  it  out  with  a  wisp  of  freshly-gathered  prairie-grass,  which 

e  had  pulled  for  the  purpose,  when  an  old  chief,  who  had 
therto  sat  quietly  by  my  side,  where  he  had  been,  to  all  ap- 

arances,  completely  absorbed  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  pipe-full 
i  tobacco  with  which  I  had  supplied  him,  sprang  suddenly  to 
I  feet,  and  interrupted  the  operation  by  snatching  the  utensil 
<  t  of  her  hand,  at  the  same  time  telling  the  woman,  in  their 
liguage,  that  she  must  be  a  fool,  that  white  folks  were  particu- 
1'  and  liked  everything  very  clean,  but  that  if  she  watched  him, 
8)  would  know  how  to  clean  a  drinking  vessel  another  time,  in 


120 


DUCKING  A  BABY. 


a  manner  which  would  satisfy  even  the  most  fastidious  pale  fac 
So  suiting  the  action  to  the  word,  while  the  squaw  looked  on 
mute  admiration,  and  I,  if  the  truth  be  told,  in  considerab 
meutal  distress,  he  seized  the  tin  pail  with  one  hand,  while  wit 
the  other  he  cast  loose  his  breech-clout,  and  then,  oh,  horror  o 
horrors  !  proceeded  to  polish  most  faithfully,  the  inside  of  t! 
vessel  with  this  somewhat  exceptionable  garment.  Is  it  n 
cessary  for  me  to  add  that  I  went  supperless  to  bed  that  night 
And  now,  stranger,  wonH  you  take  another  drink  ?" 

We  will  add  a  paragraph  here,  which  might  very  properly  1 
headed,  " A  real  blessing  to  mothers  and  nurses,"  or  an  infallib 
receipt  to  stop  babies  from  crying  whether  or  no,  and  then  w 
shall  say  farewell  to  Mr.  Ingin,  at  least  for  the  present. 

We  had  noticed  that  Indian  babies  didn't  cry  ;  we  had  see 
these  cunning-looking,  hairless,  black-eyed,  dear  darling  littl 
angels  (we  quote  from  enthusiastic  young  unmarried  ladies  now 
as  they  hung  in  a  most  neck-breaking  fashion  from  their  mother 
backs,  with  their  heads  poked  out  of  the  Mackinaw  blanket-folc 
(in  which  the  little  innocents  were  enveloped  to  an  extent  whic 
threatened  their  speedy  suffocation),  so  as  to  admit  of  their  pee] 
ing  over  the  maternal  left  shoulder  ;  but  still  no  cry,  no  whin 
per — no,  not  even  with  a  cholic  to  provoke  it — gave  notice  ths 
little  How-wow-bob-er-ry  was  in  pain.  "But  why,"  methiul 
we  hear  the  inquisitive  reader  exclaim,  "  was  this  ?  Was  tl 
long-named  cherub  dumb  ?  Had  the  pretty  copper-colored  pi 
been  tongue-tied  from  the  hour  of  its  birth  ?"  Oh,  no,  nothii 
of  the  sort  ;  it  had  been  better  trained  than  the  child  of  tl 
pale  face,  that's  all  ;  for  the  wigwam  is  a  stern  school,  and  tl 
Indian  a  most  impartial  teacher  ;  and  little  How-wow-what-d 
you-call-him,  though  not  yet  twelve  moons  old,  knows  bett 
than  to  squall,  for  his  infant  memory  still  retains  the  recolkcti< 
of  a  time  when  his  first  unlucky  squall  was  greeted  by  a  due 
ing  ia  the  nearest  creek,  administered  by  his  papa,  that  ce 


CRYING  BABIES. 


121 


brated  warrior,  Wont-stand-any-such-humbug  ;  and  his  second 
by  ditto  repeated,  until  he  had  learnt  to  reason  from  his  former 
aquatic  experiences  that  the  same  thing  might  happen  again. 
So  the  "  recollections  of  the  past,"  all  sombre  though  they  be, 
warn  him  to  "  keep  a  stiff  upper  lip,"  even  though  he  don't 
"  feel  jolly."  From  "  all  of  which  and  singular  "  you  may  per- 
ceive that  as  "  a  burnt  child  "  is  said  to  "  dread  the  fire  "  upon 
this  side  of  the  Mississippi,  so  a  ducked  one  may  fear  the  water, 
upon  the  other.  And,  finally,  under  this  head,  we  would,  with 
all  due  deference,  beg  leave  to  recommend  this  system  of  immer- 
sion to  indulgent  mammas  in  general  ;  for.  they  may  rest  assured 
that  there  is  nothing  like  Hydropathy  for  converting  a  "  squall- 
ing brat  "  into  "  a  treasure  of  a  baby." 

And  upon  re-reading  what  we  have  just  written,  we  are  con- 
vinced that  the  Temperance  people,  at  least,  should  think  well 
of  us  ;  for,  have  we  not  given  the  reader  three  most  undoubted 
cold  water  yarns,  all  duly  strung  together  like  a  flock  of  wild 
geese  (let  us  hope  that  the  simile  ends  there),  and  what  is 
more  to  the  purpose,  a  moral  to  each — if  one  could  only  hunt 
it  out? 

So  much  for  our  first  visit  to  the  Shawnee  Manual  Labor 
School  and  its  inhabitants. 


6 


122 


KIT  CARSON. 


CHAPTER  XII. 


/  NEWS-HUNTING  IN  WESTPORT. 


We  got  back  to  our  Westport  "inn"  rather  inexpressibly 
mule  sore,  an  hour  by  sun,  and  straightway  "  dropped  round 
town"  into  various  shops  {or,  as  we  Americans  call  them, 
"stores  "),  and  so  forth,  with  our  ears  wide  open  and  our  note- 
book at  hand  ;  nor  was  our  news-hunt  in  Westport  less  suq- 
cessful  than  that  in  which  we  had  been  engaged  at  the  Mission  • 
for  we  "  bagged  "  the  following  from  an  old  frontiersman,  who 
had  seen  our  friend  Kit  Carson — the  Kit — in  October  last  ;  and 
it  may  interest  those  who  have  read  of  his  wild  adventures  "  by 
flood  and  field,"  to  know  that  Kit  Carson  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains— the  hero  of  many  a  border-fight  and  romantic  expedi- 
tion— has  at  length  "  settled  down  for  good."  Yes  it  is  even 
so  ;  for  our  Nimrod  of  the  West  has  laid  aside  the  rifle  and 
bowie-knife  to  take  up  the  yard-stick  and  scales  ;  and  now, 
instead  of  sending  hostile  Indians  to  their  long  account,  he  is 
sending  long  accounts  to  them.  "lis  true  he  charges  still,  and  we 
doubt  not  as  freely  as  before  ;  but  these  attacks  are  only  on  his 
customers  ;  and  if  he  "posts  a  man,"  he  does  it  in  the  ledger. 
But  a  truce  to  punning — for  we  hate  a  pun — the  more  so  as 
it  is  rumored  that  those  who  perpetrate  such  things  "  would 
even  steal  a  sheep  and  as  we  have  little  desire  to  be  charged 
with  mutton-thieving,  we  will  tell  you  in  so  many  words,  that 
Kit  Carson  keeps  a  store,  or,  as  they  say  out  West,  "  is  engaged 


AUBREY. 


123 


in  selling  goods"  in  the  city  of  San  Fernando  del  Taos,  New 
Mexico,  where,  as  our  informant  states,  Carson  has  entered  into 
partnership  with  a  Mr.  Maxwell,  a  gentleman  who,  if  we  remem- 
ber rightly,  was  himself  an  "  old  Mountain  man."  The  style 
of  the  firm  is  Carson  &  Maxwell.  We  were,  moreover,  pleased 
to  learn  that  Kit  has  been  restored  to  his  office  of  Indian 
agent,  from  which  he  was  for  a  time  suspended  by  order  of 
the  Governor  of  New  Mexico.  From  all  that  we  could  gather 
in  relation  to  the  difficulty  which  led  to  his  suspension,  we 
understood  that  Carson  had  directed  some  sheep  belonging  to 
the  Mexicans  to  be  killed  for  the  use  of  the  Indians — under 
what  circumstances  we  were  unable  to  discover.  This  drew 
forth  a  complaint  from  the  Mexicans  to  the  governor,  who 
called  Carson  to  account  ;  and  finally  got  into  a  difficulty  with 
the  old  mountaineer,  in  which  the  latter  played  a  very  inde- 
pendent part.  The  whole  affair  was  then  referred  to  the  proper 
authorities  at  Washington,  and  there  settled  (as  we  should 
judge  from  the  result),  in  the  pioneer's  favor.  Kit  talked  of 
coming  to  "the  States  "  this  fall,  but  has  deferred  it  until  ano- 
ther year. 

From  Carson  the  conversation  very  naturally  turned  to  poor 
Aubrey,  who,  as  the  reader  doubtless  knows,  was  recently  killed 
in  New  Mexico,  where  he  fell,  after  braving  death  in  every  form, 
by  the  hand  of  an  American,  and  in  a  private  quarrel. 

It  is  not  generally  known  that  Aubrey  rode,  in  the  fall  of 
1848,  from  Santa  Fe,  N.  M.,  to  Independence,  Mo.,  a  distance 
of  115  miles  in  five  consecutive  days,  and  sixteen  hours.  But 
in  his  anxiety  to  perform  a  feat  which  no  man  has  yet  equalled,.aud 
in  all  human  probability  never  will,  h&  nearly  sacrificed  his  life  to 
his  ambition,  for  on  arriving  at  his  journey's  end,  he  was  literally 
lifted  from  his  blood-stained  saddle.  We  remember  meeting 
Aubrey  at  the  crossing  of  the  Arkansas  in  the  summer  of  that 
year  j  he  was  then  just  returning  from  a  similar  ride,  which  he 


124 


SECRET  MILITARY  ORGANIZATION. 


had  made  in  something  less  than  eight  days.  In  person,  Aubrey 
was  a  small  but  very  active  man,  all  bone  and  muscle,  just  the 
figure  for  such  an  expedition — for  who  doesn't  know  that  there's 
no  telling  what  a  little  man  cannot  do  when  he  tries  ? 

We  met  a  prominent  Free  State  man,  a  correspondent 
of  the  New  York  Times,  here  to-day,  who  is  on  his  way  out  of 
the  country.  This  gentleman  gives  us  the  following  in  regard 
to  the  Secret  Military  Organization  of  the  Free  State  party. 
He  says  :  that  it  extends  through  the  States  of  Illinois,  Indiana, 
Iowa,  and  Northern  Michigan,  from  which  some  fifteen  hundred 
fighting-men  were  already  on  their  way  to  assist  the  citizens  of 
Lawrence,  when  a  settlement  of  the  difficulties  there,  rendered 
the  presence  of  a  reinforcement  unnecessary,  and  induced  them 
to  turn  back.  From  which  it  would  appear,  that  "  the  hour  and 
the  man "  of  Free  State-ism,  or  Pro-Si  a  very-ism,  for  we  can 
scarce  say  which,  is  yet  to  come. 

We  hear  too,  from  the  same  source,  of  a  serious  misunder- 
standing between  Generals  Robinson  and  Lane,  the  Free  State 
leaders.  Its  origin  was  thus  :  It  seems,  that  after  the  settlement 
of  difficulties  in  Lawrence,  it  was  thought  proper  to  give  a 
supper  and  ball,  at  the  Free  State  Hotel,  or  Eldridge  House 
which  is  to  be,  to  celebrate  the  happy  termination  of  the  Waka- 
rusa  War,  and  hail  the  advent  of 

M  Those  piping  times  of  peace,' 

as  Shakespeare  has  it.  Now  this  ball  was  free  to  all  comers. 
Indeed  it  was  not  only  a  jollification,  got  up  without  distinction 
of  party,  but  a  sort  of  soothing  plaster  to  cement  the  blessed 
re-union  which  has  just  been  consummated  between  Free-Soilism 
and  Pro-Slavery,  and  heal  the  wounds  of  all  parties  concerned. 
Among  other  distinguished  personages,  General  Robinson  tea- 
dered  a  special  invitation  to  the  Pro-Slavery  sheriff,  of  Doug- 
las County  (Jones),  a  person  at  that  time  highly  obnoxious  to 


THE  SHERIFF'S  INVITATION. 


125 


the  Free-Soilers,  who  regarded  him  as  being  little  better  than  a 
fit  emissary  of  what  they  looked  upon  "  with  as  favorable  eyes 
as  Gabriel  on  the  Devil  in  Paradise  " — the  so  styled  "  Bogus 
Legislature."  After  -  tendering  this  invitation,  and  receiving 
Jones's  acceptance  of  the  same,  General  Robinson  went  back  to 
the  supper-room,  and  then  asked  (which  we  fancied  might  better 
have  been  done  at  first),  if  it  were  agreeable  to  the  company 
present  that  Sheriff  Jones  should  attend  ?  to  this  an  almost  unani- 
mous cry  of  "  Yes,  let  him  come,"  was  the  response.  When 
General  Lane  got  upon  his  legs,  and  made  what  we  have  heard 
styled  a  very  inflammatory  speech,  in  which  he  stated  that  he 
had  talked  with  a  committee  from  three  of  the  Lawrence  com- 
panies of  Free  State  Kansas  Volunteers,  who  had  declared  that 
the  men  of  those  companies  would  not  be  present,  if  Jones  was 
permitted  to  become  a  guest.  This  called  forth  a  shout  of 
"  Keep  him  out  then."  In  answer  to  this,  Robinson  imme- 
diately rose,  and  expostulated  with  those  present,  at  the  same 
time  pointing  out  to  the  malcontents,  that  he  had  invited 
Jones,  who  must  therefore  be  considered  their  guest,  and  as  such 
entitled,  by  every  law  of  hospitality,  to  courteous  treatment  at 
their  hands.  To  this  Lane  replied,  by  stating  that  he  "  had 
rather  a  million  of  Joneses  should  stay  away,  than  that  one  of 
his  men  should  be  prevented  from  coming."  He  then  went  on 
to  speak  of  the  killing  of  the  Free  State  man  Barber,  making  use 
of  this  unhappy  circumstance  as  a  theme  well  calculated  to  excite 
the  indignation  of  his  hearers.  General  Robinson  then  declared 
that  Jones  should  come,  or  he  himself  would  stay  away,  where- 
upon, our  informant  adds,  high  words  passed  between  General 
Lane  and  himself,  which  ended  in  Robinson's  going  up  to  the 
room  in  which  Jones  was  stopping,  and  reiterating  his  invita- 
tion. Jones,  having,  in  the  meantime,  heard  of  the  opposition  to 
his  being  present,  declined  the  supper,  but  upon  being  urged  by 
the  Free  State  General,  accompanied  him  to  the  ball,  where  he 


126 


THE  LION  OF  THE  EVENING. 


was  introduced  to  several  of  the  Lawrence  belles,  who,  by  the 
way,  are  strong  politicians,  and  even  more  belligerent  in  their 
Wakarusa  War  notions,  than  their  Free  State  "lords  and  mas- 
ters." And  thus  it  was  that  the  very  pugnacious  Jones  became 
the  lion  of  the  evening,  and  the  cynosure  of  every  eye.  It  is 
eveu  hinted  that  one  of  the  fair  ladies  present  intimated  a  desire 
to  see  hun  safe  home,  that  is  to  say  to  Franklin,  a  distance  of  four 
miles,  which,  with  the  mercury  at  zero,  and  at  two  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  strikes  us  as  being  a  very  masculine  undertaking.  The 
Missourians  are  reported  to  have  fought  shy  of  this  festivity,  as 
a  general  thing.  And  it  is  even  hinted  that  one  of  the  Free 
State  Volunteers,  who  must  have  been  little  better  than  a  beast, 
avowed  his  determination  to  murder  Sheriff  Jones  in  cold  blood, 
as  he  entered  the  ball-room.  It  is  on  record,  however,  that  he 
didn't  shoot,  and  we  sincerely  trust  that  if  he  had,  there  would 
have  been  manliness  enough  in  the  soldiers  of  the  Free  State 
Volunteers  to  have  taken  the  fiend  out  of  doors  and  hung  him 
upon  the  nearest  tree,  and  we  believe,  moreover,  that  it  would 
have  been  done. 


GOOD  BYE   TO  WESTPORT. 


127 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

WE  JOURNEY  TO  LECOMPTON. 

And  now  we  will  resume  our  quotations  from  our  letter  en 
route  : 

House  on  the  Prairie,  near  Lecompton,  K.  T.,  Bee.  20^,  1855. 

We  left  Westport,  Mo.,  at  9  a.  m..  yesterday,  in  an  open  wag- 
on loaded  with  doors,  carpenter's  tools,  bedding,  etc.  (this 
being  the  first  conveyance  to  Lecompton),  with  the  understand- 
ing, duly  entered  into  between  ourself  and  the  driver,  that  we 
should  walk  up  the  bad  hills  and  down  the  steep  ones,  which,  as 
it  was  no  more  than  we  "have  been  doing  for  the  benefit  of 
Smashup,  Breakdown  &  Co.'s  humbug  of  a  stage-line,  ever  since 
we  left  St.  Louis  (not  to  mention  packing  a  rail),  seemed  no  very 
great  hardship.  We  had  for  company  on  the  road,  beside  the 
driver,  who  had  been  "  raised  in  Illinois"  (where  he  had  followed 
the  example  of  that  eccentric  Westerner  who  swore,  that  if  a  man 
hadn't  a  right  to  get  the  chills  in  a  new  country,  he  hadn't  a 
right  to  do  anything  ;  and  very  nearly  shaken  himself  to  death 
in  carrying  out  the  principle),  an  Empire  State  man,  a  very 
seedy  specimen,  going  to  seek  his  fortune  at  Lecompton  (which, 
as  your  readers  ought  to  know,  has  been  selected  as  the  capital 
of  Kansas),  and  a  certain  Mr.  Stewart,  the  recently  appointed 
superintendent  of  Public  Buildings  at  that  place.  These,  with 
your  very  humble  servant,  "Our  Correspondent,"  made  up  the 


128 


THE   SOLITARY  GRAVE. 


complement  of  bipeds.  As  for  the  animal  motive  power,  we  had 
a  couple  of  rat-like  "Ingianny"  horses,  of  which  our  driver 
seemed  particularly  proud,  though  for  what  particular  good  qua- 
lity it  was  impossible  to  say,  and  a  short-tailed  mule  of  Stewart's 
which  did  duty  both  as  a  riding-animal,  and  as  a  leader  to  our 
team,  when  a  steep  hill  required  an  extra  effort. 

At  2  o'clock,  p.  jr.,  we  halted  at  Donaldson's,  a  Kentuckian 
who  married  the  daughter  of  a  Shawnee  chief  (Captain  Parks), 
and  is  therefore  entitled  to  reside  upon  the  "  Indian  Reserve;" 
his  dwelling,  a  new  stone  house,  just  erected  at  a  cost  of 
$2,800,  is,  for  "  these  diggin's,"  quite  an  aristocratic  affair,  being 
two  stories  in  height,  with  doors,  windows,  and  such  like  luxu- 
ries, and  wonderful  to  relate,  lathed  and  plastered  inside.  Here 
we  dined,  at  "  two  bits"  (York  shillings)  per  head,  on  hog-meat 
and  wild  honey,  and  then  progressed,  feeling,  so  far  as  our  indi- 
vidual self  was  concerned,  considerably  better,  on  our  way  to 
Bean's  Hotel  (?)  on  Wakarusa  Creek,  where  we  proposed  halt- 
ing for  the  night. 

As  we  journeyed  slowly  on,  our  friend  Stewart  pointed  out  to 
us  a  rude  wooden  enclosure,  standing  solitary  and  alone,  upon  a 
ridge  of  the  prairie  ;  "  There,"  said  he,  "  I  witnessed  a  strange 
ceremony  last  spring.  The  friends  of  an  Indian  brave,  whose 
spirit  had  sought  the  hunting-grounds  of  his  fathers,  were  bury- 
ing their  dead  out  of  their  sight  beneath  yon  snow-covered 
mound.  As  I  rode  up,  the  interment  had  been  completed,  and 
the  mould  filled  in.  The  horse  of  the  dead  chieftain  was  then 
led  forth  and  shot  beside  the  grave,  with  a  favorite  hound  of 
'  the  deceased  ;  for  it  is  the  custom  of  their  people,  when  the  red 
man  goes  forth  upon  that  unknown  trail,  to  send  his  fleetest 
steed  and  faithful  dog  to  bear  him  company." 

During  this  day's  travel  our  way  lay,  for  the  most  part,  over 
long  rolls  of  up-swelling  prairie,  with  here  and  there  a  long  line 
of  timber,  marking  the  location  of  some  creek,  or  bottom  land  ; 


SNOW-CLAD    PRAIRIES.  129 

but  as  a  general  thing,  the  earth  boasted  neither  bush*  nor 
shrub. 

Poets  who  eulogize  what  Bryant  styles 

"  — The  gardens  of  the  desert, 

For  which  the  speech  of  England  has  no  name, 

should  ride  over  them — as  we  have  done  to-day — in  the  teeth 
(and  they  ought  to  be  aching  ones)  of  this  December  blast,  on 
the  top  of  a  loaded  wagon,  with  their  eyes  a  fountain  of  waters, 
and  their  noses  an  indigo  blue,  and  we  will  venture  to  say  that 
they  would  quote  from  Shakspeare  as  we  once  heard  an  Irish- 
man do,  and  declare  with  practical  Pat,  that "  a  prairie  is  divil  a 
bit  better  than  jist  flat,  stale,  and  unprofitable." 

We  know  that  "  Our  Correspondent "  found  it  so,  for  as  the  sud 
went  down,  and  the  biting  gale  came  sweeping  over  the  long, 
unprotected  "rolls,"  we  would  have  given  all  the  romance  of 
strange  travel  in  a  yet  stranger  country,  for  the  e very-day  crea- 
ture comforts  of  a  warm  room  and  a  hot  supper.  Yes,  we  will 
be  candid  ;  be  it  confessed,  then,  that  we  shivered,  and  shook, 
and  played  the  old  Harry's  tatoo  with  our  chattering  mastica- 
tors, until,  between  "  the  influence  of  the  hour,"  and  the  indi- 
gestion naturally  arising  from  a  hog  and  honey  dinner,  we  got 
the  blues — grew  desperate — wished  Kansas,  "  the  war,"  and  the 
New  York  Herald  in  that  extremity,  and  your  humble  servant, 
the  writer,  safely  back  again  in  the  "  Empire  State."  But 
"Bean's  Hotel,"  brought  us  up  handsomely  at  eight,  p.m., 
and  we  assure  you  'that  we  had  not  taken  our  half-frozen 
body  out  of  the  wagon  over  half-an-hour  before  we  thawed 
out,  and,  unlike  Mark  Tapley — who  was  always  doing  well 
under  "depressing  circumstances" — "  turned  up  jolly"  under 
the  genial  influences  of  a  big  log-fire,  and  a  hot  cup  of  coffee. 
But  we  should  do  the  reader,  ourself,  and  mine  host,  Mr. 
Bean,  an  injustice,  if  we  neglected  to  describe  his  "  hotel," 

6* 


130 


bean's  hotel. 


inside  aud  out.    It  is  a  log-cabin,  or  rather  two  log-cabins,  with 
a  connecting  link  between,  in  the  shape  of  a  porch,  which  is  ob- 
tained by  continuing  the  flooring  and  room,  but  omitting  the 
sides  ;  to  either  end  of  this  Siamese  twin  house  is  attached  a  huge- 
chimney,  of  such  tremendous  dimensions,  that  it  quite  carried  out 
an  idea  which  we  heard  hazarded  once  by  a  certain  Miss  Biddy 
O'Rourke,  of  "  a  house  built  to  a  chimney  ;"  but  fuel  is  cheap 
in  a  new  country,  and  there  are  worse  things  after  a  long  day's 
ride  than  a  heaping  wood-fire,  with  its  sparkles  and  flashes  of 
light,  and  its  great  red  coals,  which  peep  out  like  fiery  eyes  ; 
not  to  mention  the  glowing  pictures  which  the  day-dreamer  fan- 
cies, as  he  watches,  with  thoughtful  brow,  the  upward  course  of 
the  glowing  sparks  ;  and  then  for  furniture  (for  we  always  love 
to  locate  ourself  to  the  reader,  even  at  the  risk  of  being  taken 
for  an  upholsterer  on  a  tour),  we  have  a  pile  of  books,  a  chest 
of  drawers,  antique — a  table,  very  shaky — a  big  bed,  quite 
primitive  in  its  way — a  little  ditto,  which,  with  a  small  armory 
of  rifles  and  other  murderous  utensils,  complete  the  inventory. 
And  then  there's  the  group  around  the  fire  ;  but  it  would  require 
too  great  an  effort  to  do  them  justice,  and  moreover,  if  we  re- 
member aright,  we  have  already  given  the  reader  "  a  taste  of 
our  quality, "  in  the  way  of  fireside  descriptions  ;  so  we  won't 
repeat  the  dose,  at  least  at  present,  the  more  so  as  we  are  in 
honor  bound  to  write  Kansas,  and  really  "  nothing  shorter."  A 
truce  then,  to  any  description  of  character,  be  the  originality  ever 
so  striking,  or  the  temptation  ever  so  great  ;  suffice  it  to  say 
that  we  slept  that  night  the  sleep  of  a  weary  man,  on  a  feather, 
bed,  with  a  buffalo  attachment  (where  we  dreamed  of  Rocky 
Mountain  snow-drifts),  in  a  thorough  draft,  with  a  door  half  a 
foot  too  short  on  one  side,  and  an  insecure  window,  whose  glasses 
were  absent  without  leave,  upon  the  other  ;  and  so  ended  our 
first  day  and  night  in  Kansas. 

In  the  morning,  we  breakfasted  and  started  betimes,  so  that 


FRANKLIN. 


131 


in  spite  of  our  snail  pace  motion,  we  reached  the  town  of  Frank- 
lin about  noon,  where,  as  our  orders  include,  "  the  industrial  and 
agricultural  prospects  of  the  new  Territory  and  its  people,"  we 
obtained  the  following  "facts,"  which  we  give  you  as  they  were 
told  us,  having  first,  to  guard  against  misrepresentations,  de- 
ducted twenty  per  cent,  for  any  personal  interest  which  our  in- 
formant might  have  had  in  settling  that  particular  vicinity. 

Franklin,  Kansas  Territory,  is  what  the  geographer  would 
call  pleasantly  situated  on  a  somewhat  prominent  hill  or  prairie 
ridge.  It  was  first  settled  by  one  Wallace  of  Iowa,  in  October, 
1853,  but  permanent  buildings  were  not  commenced  until  June 
of  the  present  year.  As  regards  the  value  of  land,  town  lots, 
sixty  by  one  huudred  and  twenty  feet,  bring,  according  to  loca- 
tion, from  $25  to  $100,  although,  for  that  matter,  we  should 
much  prefer  to  buy  at  a  less  rate,  and  at  a  greater  distance 
from  the  main  body  of  the  place,  for  we  understand  that  the 
whisky-drinking  and  gambling  propensities  of  the  good  citizens 
of  Franklin  are  pretty  generally  known.  Timber,  principally 
oak  (various  kinds),  and  black  walnut,  is  to  be  had  in  present 
abundance,  at  the  distance  of  a  little  over  a  mile  from  the  town. 
Excellent  water  may  be  obtained  by  digging  to  a  depth  of 
from  twenty-five  to  thirty-six  feet  ;  but  these  wells  sometimes 
go  dry.  For  building  purposes,  pine  lumber  may  be  obtained 
at  Kansas  city — the  nearest  point — at  a  cost,  including  trans- 
portation to  Franklin,  of  $80  per  thousand  feet.  Agricultur- 
ists say  that  the  yield  of  corn  in  that  vicinity — first  crop — taking 
a  range  of  two  miles  from  Franklin,  has  been  sixty  bushels  to  the 
acre,  in  lands  on  the  Wakarusa  bottom,  and  twenty-five  bushels 
in  sod  on  the  prairie.  A  two-story  frame  building,  forty-two  by 
thirty-two  feet,  comfortably  furnished  inside,  has  just  been  put 
up  at  a  cost  of  $1,400.  .We  were  afterwards  invited  to  attend 
a  house-warming  upon  the  completion  of  this  dwelling  by  its 
owner,  who  very  kindly  offered  to  send  a  conveyance  to  Law* 


132. 


INTERESTING  TO  EMIGRANTS. 


rence,  where  we  were  then  stopping,  to  bring  us  down,  and  we 
regret  that  our  engagements  and  the  severity  of  the  weather 
should  have  prevented  us  from  seeing  a  social  fandango  in  Frank- 
lin, where,  to  do  the  people  justice,  they  are  said  to  get  up 
those  sort  of  things  in  very  good  (frontier)  style. 

But  to  return.  There  are  some  twelve  houses  and  cabins 
built  or  in  progress  of  erection. 

The  population  of  this  place  is  from  seventy-five  to  one  hun- 
dred souls.  It  is  a  strong  Pro-Slavery  town,  and  furnished  a 
large  quota — nearly  sixty  men — to  the  Governor's  forces  for 
"  the  War."  It  has  a  steam  saw-mill  of  eighteen  horse  power. 
The  citizens  claim  to  have  had  no  cases  of  that  great  Western 
bug-bear,  the  all  shaking  fever  and  ague,  as  yet  ;  but  we  should 
say  that  the  location,  with  the  large  swampy  bottom  in  its  vici- 
nity, was  favorable  to  the  production  of  swamp  miasmas. 

Franklin  is  distant  by  some  thirty-eight  miles  from  Westport, 
Mo.,  fifty-five  from  Independence,  three  from  Lawrence,  and 
fifteen  from  Lecompton,  the  capital  of  Kansas  Territory. 

We  are  indebted  to  Mr.  Stewart,  our  fellow  traveller,  for 
much  useful  data  in  re  Kansas  and  her  prospects. 

The  following  "  facts  and  figures,"  which  have  been  derived 
in  part  from  the  gentleman  just  alluded  to,  and  others  well 
qualified  to  give  accurate  information,  may,  we  think,  bo 
regarded  as  reliable,  and,  we  trust,  prove  useful  to  those  who 
contemplate  "  moving  into  the  Territory."  These  calculations, 
it  should  be  remarked,  will  apply  equally  well  to  a  large  portion 
of  Eastern  Kansas. 

Day  laborers  command  $1  35  per  day  and  find  themselves  ; 
mechanics  from  $1  75  to  $2  00  per  day,  without  board  ;  wash- 
ing— as  there  is  a  lack  of  females  as  yet — is  high,  say  $1  25  per 
dozen;  single-team  wagons — calculating  the  average  day's  travel 
at  twenty-five  miles — may  be  had  at  from  $4  50  to  $5  00  per 
day.    You  may  reckon  thirty  bushels  to  the  wagon.  Fencing 


FACTS  AND  FIGURES. 


133 


may  be  estimated,  where  you  hire  the  labor,  at  $4  00  per  hun- 
dred rails  ;  this  includes  everything,  splitting,  hauling,  and  set- 
ting. Though  authorities  differ  upon  this  point,  we  should  say 
that  it  would  be  a  saving  to  the  emigrant  if  he  were  to  purchase 
his  building  materials,  fully  manufactured,  in  St.  Louis,  and 
transport  them  to  the  site'  selected.  When  we  say  building 
materials  we  mean  doors,  sashes,  frame-work,  flooring,  &c.  It  is 
not  only  a  saving  in  the  transportation  of  bulk,  which  of  course 
is  greater  in  the  undressed  material,  but  the  difference  in  the 
prices  of  labor,  lumber,  &c,  will,  in  the  present  state  of  the 
market,  make  a  saving  upon  the  articles  purchased  in  St.  Louis 
of  nearly  20  per  cent.  Frame  houses,  which  are  built  entire  in  St. 
Louis,  or,  to  speak  more  properly,  their  components,  have  already 
been  transported  to  Kansas  for  erection,  at  a  considerable  saving 
to  their  owners.  For  instance,  the  Auditor  of  the  State,  Mr. 
Donaldson,  has  such  a  house  at  Lecompton — it  is  two  stories., 
high,  has  two  rooms  in  the  lower,  being  lined  with  dressed  pine 
boards  inside,  and  there  are  two  rooms  above,  say  sixteen  by 
eighteen  feet  each — which  cost  its  proprietor  when  finished 
including  transportation  by  steamer  to  Kansas  City,  and  from 
thence  by  wagon  to  Lecompton,  $800.  We  are  told  that  in 
many  parts  of  the  Territory  concrete  is  the  cheapest  building 
material  ;  it  can  be  put  up  at  an  expense  of  fourteen  cents  per 
cubic  foot.  This  speaks  well  for  the  building  stone  and  quarries 
of  Kansas. 

It  costs  about  $8  00  per  acre,  lowest  estimate,  to  "  improve  a 
claim."  Of  the  claim  system,  so  universal  in  our  Territories,  we 
shall  speak  more  fully  elsewhere.  Under  the  same  head  fall 
14  squatter  laws  "  and  "  preemption  rights." 

And  now,  having  given  the  reader  this  much  of  sober  dollar 
and  cent  facts,  we  will  go  on  with  our  pencillings  by  the 
way. 

At  one,  p.  m.,  as  we  rolled  up  "a  rise,"  our  delighted  though 


THE    PROMISED  LAND. 


somewhat  mad-blinded  optics  beheld  for  the  first  time  the  far- 
famed  city  of  Lawrence.  How  shall  our  feeble  pen  express  our 
sensations  ?  We  gazed  upon  the  scene  as  did  the  patriarch  of 
old  when  he  beheld  the  promised  land.  But  in  good  earnest  we 
felt  a  deep  interest  in  Lawrence  ;  and  as  we  watched  her  snowy 
banner  floating  in  the  breeze,  we  snuffed  up  the  pure,  albeit  some 
wliat  freezing  gales  of  the  prairie  with  a  keener  relish,  and  mur- 
mured "  This  air  Lawrence."  We  didn't  apostrophize  her,  because 
we  didn't  feel  equal  to  the  task.  We  didn't  curse  her,  because  the 
inhabitants  of  that  city  are  stern  republicans — "black"  though 
they  be — and  we  have  the  fortune — good  or  bad  as  it  may  be 
— to  hail  from  the  Knickerbocker  State.  We  didn't  drink  her 
health,  because  Stewart  was  out  of  whisky  ;  but,  though  we 
didn't  say  much,  we  followed  the  example  of  the  sagacious 
bird,  the  owl,  in  keeping  up  a  think;  and  what  we  thought, 
shall  be  chronicled  as  soon  as,  in  Missouri  phrase,  we 
"get  shut  of  Kansas."  To  be  serious,  however,  Lawrence 
— even  without  taking  into  consideration  her  high  military  repu- 
tation— is  "  considerable  of  a  town,"  above  which  that  "  large 
stone  building,"  the  Kansas  Emigrant  Aid  Society's  Free  State 
Hotel — that  is  to  be — loomed  up  pre-eminent.  We  would  fain 
have  approached  to  do  it  reverence  ;  but  as  we  were  pushing 
on  to  Lecompton,  to  confer  with  his  Excellency  Governor  Shan- 
non, and  as  the  wagon  wouldn't  stop,  we  were  compelled  to 
postpone  our  pilgrimage  to  this  political  shrine  until  a  more 
convenient  season. 

So,  like  the  Priest  and  Levite,  we  passed  by  upon  the  other 
side,  and  mouuted  the  steep  bluff,  which  reaches  down  to  within 
five  hundred  yards  of  the  main  body  of  the  town,  and  which,  in 
a  military  point  of  view,  commands  the  place.  But  we  won't  be 
so  uncivil  as  to  handle  Lawreuce  in  a  military  manner  here  ;  no, 
let  her  glory  in  her  boasted  strength,  until  we  get  an  oppor- 
tunity to  fire  our  paper-bullets  at  her  earthen  "  breast-works," 


LECOMPTOX. 


135 


when  we  expect  to  prove  (we  don't  mean  hope)  that  Lawrence 
can  be  taken,  and  badly  taken  to  boot,  her  Sharpe's  rifles  and 
Kansas  Brigades  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding,  in  something 
less  than  two  hours,  by  the  wateh. 

At  three  p.  m.  we  entered  the  woods,  where  the  capitol  of 
Kansas  Territory,  partly  is,  and  principally  is  to  be,  and  drove 
up  to  a  shanty  that  covers  a  sort  of  "  general  store,"  wTiich  will 
doubtless  expand  itself  with  the  progress  of  the  place.  Upon  the 
stoppage  of  our  conveyance,  we  picked  a  "soft  place," — no  diffi- 
cult matter,  for  the  noon-day  sun  had  began  to  thaw  the  frozen 
ground — and  jumped  off,  to  the  no  slight  detriment  of  our 
"  boots."  Upon  alighting,  and  entering  the  store,  which  seemed 
to  contain  a  little  of  everything,  but  more  particularly  cheese 
and  corn  whisky,  we  were  introduced  by  our  friend  Stewart  to 
a  "  small  crowd  "  of  very  frontier-looking  gentlemen,  a  little 
rough  on  the  outside,  but  evidently  very  good  fellows  for  all 
that  Upon  making  inquiries  for  "  the  Governor,"  we  were 
informed  that  he  was  making  his  residence,  during  his  stay,  at 
a  "  House  on  the  Prairie  " — the  residence  of  Major  Clarke,  Indian 
agent  for  the  Pottawatomies — distant  some  three  miles  from 
Lecompton.  We  were  accordingly  just  "putting  out"  upon 
friend  Stewart's  mule — which  he  had  very  kindly  placed  at  our 
disposal — when  a  letter-posted  informant  suggested,  that  the 
Governor  and  Secretary  of  State,  Mr.  Woodson,  were  in  another 
part  of  "  the  town,"  which  he  designated.  Upon  the  receipt  of 
this  intelligence,  we  mounted,  and  rode  through  a  piece  of  woods, 
found  the  "other  part  of  the  town,"  consisting  of  two  houses, 
and  the  Governor,  who  made  his  first  appearance  to  our  eyes  in 
the  form  of  a  stoutly-built,  elderly  gentleman,  clad  in  a  rusty 
suit  of  black,  with  iron-grey  hair  (and  if  the  governing  of 
Kansas  is  not  enough  to  turn  any  man's  hair  grey,  we  don't  know 
what  trouble  would),  under  a  most  "dilapidated  tile."  He  was 
sitting  upon  a  white  horse,  a  la  General  Taylor — or  as  the 


136 


NEW  FRIENDS 


"great  unwashed"  delight  to  call  him,  "  Old  Rough  and  Ready" — 
and  looked  dignified,  as  a  Governor  should,  but  good-natured 
withal.  So  we  felt  emboldened,  reined  in  our  mule,  made  oar 
politest  bow,  and  presented  our  credentials  in  the  shape  of  the 
letter  of  introduction  from  the  distinguished  ex-Senator  already 
alluded  to.  The  Governor  dropped  his  bridle,  put  on  his 
spectacles,  read  the  document  in  question,  and  then  shook  us 
warmly  by  the  hand  and  welcomed  us  to  Kansas.  Then  turn- 
ing to  the  Secretary  of  State  (Woodson),  who  was  riding  at 
his  side,  he  gave  us  the  initiative  to  an  acquaintance,  which  we 
afterwards  took  great  pleasure  in  cultivating.  We  then  rode 
down  together,  to  the  residence  of  Dr.  Rodrigue,  a  promi- 
nent citizen  of  Kansas,  who  has  informed  himself  thoroughly  in 
relation  to  the  natural  resources  of  the  Territory  ;  with. Doctor 
Rodrigue,  we  found  Sheriff  Jones.  We  found  him  rather  a 
fine-looking  young  man,  of  some  eight  and  twenty  years  of 
age,  or  thereabouts,  who,  unfortunately  for  our  young  lady 
friends,  is  married  to  a  very  nice  wife.  Well,  we  shook  hands 
with  these  new  friends,  and  then  pursued  our  way,  in  company 
with  Woodson  and  the  Governor,  by  a  short  cut,  to  "  House 
on  the  Prairie,"  where  we  arrived  in  safety,  as  the  sun  was 
going  down,  and  met  a  hearty  reception  from  its  inmates. 

After  supper  we  entered  into  conversation  with  Governor 
Shannon  and  his  private  secretary — a  son  of  the  Governor's, 
whom  we  were  introduced  to  at  Major  Clarke's — upon  the 
multiplicity  of  matters  which  our  duties,  as  a  newspaper  corres- 
pondent, make  it  our  province  to  investigate,  and  the  Governor 
very  kindly  promised  to  give  us  a  history  of  "  the  war." 


THREATENINGS. 


137 


CHAPTER  XIY. 

HOUSE    ON    THE  PRAIRIE. 

And  now  it  seems  proper  to  say  something  of  Major  Clarke, 
from  whose  hospitable  mansion  we  are  writing,  as  well  as  to  put 
the  reader  in  possession  of  some  of  the  dangers  to  which  "  Our 
special  Correspondent "  may  be  exposed,  while  pursuing  his  vo- 
cation even  in  the  pacific  and  law-abiding  Territory  of  Kansas. 

To  go  back  "  to  the  beginning,"  Major  Clarke  (who  is  from 
Arkansas,  where  he  formerly  edited  a  paper,  and  was  a  member 
of  the  State  Legislature),  has  taken,  or  has  had  the  credit  of 
having  taken — which,  with  an  enemy,  always  comes  to  the  same 
thing — a  very  decided  Pro-Slavery  stand  during  the  recent  dif- 
ficultes  in  Kansas.  He  was,  moreover,  one  of  the  two  men — 
his  companion  being  Colonel  Burns  of  Weston,  Mo.  who 
fired  upon  Barber  and  his  party.  These  acts  have  made  him 
particularly  obnoxious  to  the  Free  State  men  of  Lawrence,  and 
as  his  residence  is  within  eight  miles  of  that  town,  he  has  been 
repeatedly  threatened  with  violence,  in  proof  of  which  the  fol- 
lowing may  be  stated. 

Even  before  Barber  was  killed,  a  party  of  some  ten  or  twelve 
Free  State  men,  armed  to  the  teeth,  surrounded  Mr,  Doak  (a 
brother-in-law  of  the  Major's,  who  resides  with  him),  as  he  was 
returning  home  from  Lecompton,  and  told  him  that,  "  Now  was 
the  time  that  they  were  going  to  have  the  difficulty  with  Major 
Clarke  settled  ;  that  he,  the  Major,  could  not  live  f  with  many 
similar  expressions. 


138 


A   LATE  VISITOR. 


Since  the  death  of  Barber,  a  party  of  some  twenty  men 
stopped  at  the  dwelling  of  Judge  Wakefield  (a  prominent  Free- 
Soil  politician,  who  has  since  figured  upon  both  their  regular 
and  irregular  tickets),  on  the  California  trail,  some  three  miles 
distant  from  Major  Clarke's,  and  there  swore,  in  the  presence  of 
a  certain  "  Squire  Crane — 'a  very  reliable  man ' — that  "Clarke 
should  not  live  ;  that  he  must  die,"  alleging  at  the  same  time 
as  a  reason,  that  Clark  was  with  the  party  who  killed  Barber. 
Barber's  two  brothers  were  said  to  have  been  with  these  men. 

In  addition  to  these  matters,  of  which  Major  Clarke  has  at 
various  times  been  notified,  it  may  be  mentioned  as  an  additional 
proof  of  the  hostile  intentions  of  his  enemies,  that  a  Doctor 
Johnson,  a  son  of  the  present  governor  of  Virginia,  who  has 
been  residing  at  "  House  on  the  Prairie,"  for  the  last  two  weeks, 
■ — his  own  dwelling  being  in  the  immediate  neighborhood — to 
assist  in  defending  Clarke's  house  from  any  attack  that  might  be 
made  upon  it,  has  been  fired  upon  no  less  than  three  times, 
the  ball — upon  the  last  occasion — passing  through  his  coat.  The 
circumstances  under  which  these  attacks  were  made  are  as  fol- 
lows :  In  the  first  instance,  which  occurred  just  after  Dr.  John- 
son arrived  at  "  House  on  the  Prairie,"  three  suspicious-looking 
men  rode  up  in  front  of  Clarke's  house  ;  this  was  after  nightfall. 
To  ascertain  their  intentions  and  business  there,  Doctor  Johnson 
stepped  out  into  the  yard  and  hailed  ^hem  ;  to  this  they 
returned  no  satisfactory  reply  ;  the  Doctor  then  fired  upon 
them  with  his  pistol,  upon  which  two  of  the  strangers  wheeled 
about  and  returned  the  fire,  after  which  they  immediately  rode 
off.  No  person  was  hit,  so  far  as  could  be  ascertained,  upon 
either  side. 

Upon  the  second  occasion — which  dates  back  to  the  Monday 
preceding  our  visit — Doctor  Johnson  was  walking  up  from 
Benicia,  some  two  miles  from  Major  Clarke's,  and  when  about 
midway  between  the  two  places,  a  man  mounted  upon  a  grey 


SHOOTING  AT  A  DOCTOR. 


139 


horse,  rode  out  from  the  bushes,  and  called  out  :  "  Is  your  name 
Dr.  Johnsou  ?"  to  which  the  Doctor  answered,  "  Yes."  The  man 
replied,  "  Then  you  are  the  rascal  I  have  been  waiting-  for  f 
and  immediately  fired  upon  him  with  a  pistol — for  this  would-be 
assassin  had  no  gun— the  ball,  as  before  stated,  passing  through  the 
skirt  of  the  Doctor's  coat.  Before  the  Doctor  could  draw  his 
pistol  to  return  the  shot,  the  man  had  ridden  off  and  disappeared 
in  the  brush.  Dr.  Johnson  begins  to  grow  superstitious  about  these 
repeated  attempts  to  take  his  life  ;  he  says  that  they  come  nearer 
and  nearer  every  time,  and  he' fears  that  the  next  attempt  will 
be  successful. 

Major  Clarke's  residence  has  now  been  regularly  guarded,  for 
upwards  of  two  weeks  ;  loaded  rifles  rest  agaiust  the  walls,  and 
w  six-shooters  ''  lie  "  handy  "  upon  the  tables.  Some  of  Clarke's 
Pro-Slavery  friends  are  constantly  there,  and  if  an  attack  be 
made,  the  assailants  may  count  upon  a  most  desperate  resistance. 
There  is  hardly  any  room  to  doubt  that  if  an  overt  act  be  com- 
mitted in  this  quarter,  a  war  of  extermination  would  be  the 
result.  For,  were  Major  Clarke's  residence  to  be  molested  in 
his  absence,  the  Missourians  would  be  almost  certain  to  cross 
the  frontier,  and  level  Lawrence  with  the  ground  ;  at  least,  such 
is  the  impression  of  those  best  qualified  to  judge. 

To  give  some  idea  of  the  state  of  excitement  and  apprehension 
which  exists  among  the  members  of  the  Major's  family,  we  may 
mention,  that  Major  Clarke  has  already  fired  upon,  and  wounded 
one  of  a  party  of  his  friends  who  were  approaching  his  house, 
late  in  the  evening,  under  the  impression  that  they  wTere  enemies. 
Indeed,  a  knock  at  the  front  door  this  very  evening  caused  a 
muster  of  the  "tools,"  and  it  was  not  until  the  name  and  busi- 
ness of  the  stranger  were  fully  understood,  and  deemed  pacific, 
that  the  door  was  (even  then),  cautiously  opened  for  his  admis- 
sion. 

For  ourself,  we  are  free  to  confess,  and  we  don't  care  who 


140 


THE  GUARDED  HOUSE. 


knows  it,  that  we  shall,  during  our  stay  in  Kansas,  deny  onrself 
the  luxury  of  moonlight  rambles,  or  the  pleasure  of  paying  visits 
after  sundown. 

The  annexed  letter  will  come  in  very  properly  here.  It  is  a 
communication  from  Major  Clarke  to  Governor  Shannon, 
dated  from  House  on  the  Prairie,  which  he  sometimes  calls  Camp 
Clarke,  and  addressed  to  His  Excellency,  at  Shawnee  Mission. 
The  following  is  a  literal  copy  :— 

Camp  Clarke,  Dec.  3,  1855. 
Dear  Sir  : — I  hasten  to  write  you  by  an  express  that  is  now  on  its  way 
(12  o'clock  at  night).  My  house  is  a  fortification.  I  am  compelled  to  keep 
a  guard  with  sentinels  all  night.  Unless  the  violators  of  the  law  are  dis- 
armed, the  country  is  ruined.  If  the  troops  should  withdraw  without  this 
being  done,  a  partisan  war  will  continue.  Murders,  house  burnings,  and 
all  the  outrages  incident  to  civil  war  will  follow ;  or  we  (the  law-abiding 
men)  will  have  to  withdraw  from  the  Territory,  to  our  great  pecuniary  dis- 
tress. 

The  outlaws  have  marked  our  men.  They  keep  their  movements  secret, 
and  we  know  not  who  is  first  to  be  attacked,  or  when  it  will  be  made.  We 
have  learned,  upon  ample  authority,  that  more  than  one  hundred  Sharpe's 
rifles  are  distributed  in  the  immediate  neighborhood.  My  next  door  neigh- 
bors have  them  in  possession,  and  only  two  days  ago  ten  armed  men  sur- 
rounded a  member  of  my  family  with  threatening  language,  and  ended  the 
interview  with  a  threat  to  dispose  of  myself. 

We,  the  law  abiding  men,  appeal  to  you,  and  insist  that  nothing  less 
than  the  surrender  of  the  arms  now  held  by  the  traitors  can  satisfy  the 
community.  They  are  in  open  rebellion — they  have  their  arms  for  the 
special  purpose  of  resisting  the  laws  and  avenging  supposed  injuries — with 
these  arms  they  have  already  forcibly  rescued  prisoners  from  the  hands  of 
the  officers — they  threaten  to  rescue  others ;  they  are  protecting  men  who 
have  broken  custody,  and  in  every  sense  they  are  traitors,  and  giving  :.id 
and  comfort  to  traitors. 

In  haste,  your  friend  and  obedient  servant, 

George  W.  Clarke. 

To  Governor  Wilson  Shannon,  Shawnee  Mission. 


A  DEPLORABLE  TRANSACTION. 


141 


Major  Clarke,  it  should  be  remembered,  has  been  for  the  last 
three  years  (as  Indian  agent  of  the  Pottawatomies)  an  officer 
of  the  general  government,  stationed  in  the  Territory.  He  is 
represented  as  being  an  impetuous,  and  highly  excitable,  but 
withal,  kind-hearted  person  ;  a  democrat  and  ultra-Pro-Slavery 
man  in  his  politics  ;  in  fact,  what  is  usually  called  a  thorough- 
going Southerner. 

It  is  admitted  that  the  Major  was  one  of  the  Pro-Slavery  men 
who  took  part  in  that  unfortunate  rencounter,  which  resulted  in 
the  killing  of  the  Free  State  man,  Barber. 

The  following  may  be  regarded  as  a  correct  statement  of  the 
circumstances  attending  this  deplorable  transaction,  as  we  have 
learned  them  from  the  most  reliable  Pro-Slavery  authorities. 
For  the  Free  State  versions  of  the  affair,  we  must  refer  the 
reader  to  the  narratives  of  Barber  and  Pierson,  the  brother  and 
brother-in-law  of  the  deceased,  which  will  be  found  under  their 
proper  head.  We  should  also  remark,  that  we  finally  obtained 
an  account  of  the  matter  from  Major  Clarke  himself,  but  as  this 
paper  has  been  unfortunately  lost,  we  are  compelled  to  give  his 
side  of  the  story  as  it  has  come  to  us,  through  a  person  to  whom 
he  related  the  alleged  facts  ;  it  is,  however,  substantially  the 
same,  if  we  mistake  not,  as  that  which  we  received  from  Major 
Clarke. 

On  the  f  th  of  December,  at  noon,  Major  Clarke  left  the  Pro- 
Slavery  camp  at  Lecompton  in  company  with  a  party  of  its 
leading  men,  among  whom  were  Major  General  Richardson,  com- 
manding the  Militia  of  Kansas,  Judge  Cato  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  and  Judge  Woods  of  the  Police  Court  of  Douglas  county. 
These  gentlemen  were  going,  in  compliance  with  the  request  of 
Governor  Shannon,  to  confer  with  his  Excellency  at  the  Waka- 
rusa  camp. 

While  on  their  way,  they  perceived  a  party  of  three  mounted 
men  coming  from  the  direction  of  Lawrence  ;  and  as  verbal 


I 


142  THE  BARB  EX,  HOMICIDE. 

orders  had  been  issued  to  arrest  all  suspicious  persons,  it  was 
proposed  that  an  equal  number  should  be  detached  from  their 
party  to  intercept  and  question  these  people  ;  and  if  their 
answers  should  prove  unsatisfactory,  arrest  them.  This  sugges- 
tion was  about  to  be  adopted,  when  Colonel  Barns  of  Weston, 
Mo.,  one  of  the  persons  selected,  said  :  "  Why  do  we  want  so 
many  ? — two  of  us  are  enough  to  take  these  vile  Abolitionists, 
anyhow."  Burns  and  Major  Clarke  were  accordingly  detailed, 
and  rode  out  to  overtake  the  Free  State  men.  This  they  did  ; 
and,  after  halting  them,  a  conversation  ensued,  in  which  the 
Free  State  men  not  only  declared  that  there  was  no  law  nor 
order  in  the  Territory,  but  declined  to  surrender  themselves,  in 
compliance  with  the  demand  of  Clarke  and  his  companions. 
Upon  this,  both  parties  commenced  drawing  their  arms — that  is 
to  say,  with  the  exception  of  one  of  the  Free  State  men  (who 
was  most  probably  the  man  killed)  ;  this  person  sat  upon  his 
horse  a  little  apart  from  his  companions  ;  he  had  a  switch  in  his 
hand,  but  drew  no  arms,  nor  did  he  appear  to  have  any.  Both 
parties  "  squared  to  each  other,"  and  fired — pistols  being  the  only 
weapons  used.  On  the  part  of  the  Pro-Slavery  men,  Clarke 
was  armed  with  a  small  five-inch  Colt's  revolver,  while  Burns 
had  a  Navy  revolver,  which  is  heavier  and  carries  a  much  larger 
ball.  After  exchanging  shots,  the  Free  State  men  galloped 
off.  Burns  proposed  to  send  a  "long  shot"  after  them 
from  his  rifle,  but  Clarke  objected,  saying,  "  Let  them  go." 
Burns  is  said  to  have  admitted,  that  he  thought  he  hit  the  man 
whom  he  fired  at,  as  he  saw  him  press  his  hand  to  his  side,  or, 
as  others  state  it,  "  Saw  the  fur  fly  from  his  old  great  coat.'' 
When  the  Lawrence  men  rode  off,  they  showed  no  appearance 
of  being  hurt.  Clarke  declares  that  he  had  not  the  slightest  sus- 
picion that  they  had  wounded  one  of  their  antagonists,  until 
news  was  brought  at  a  late  hour  that  night  to  the  Waka- 
rusa  camp  that  a  Lawrence  man  had  been  killed  in  this  ren- 


major  Clarke's  statement. 


143 


counter.  It  was  rumored,  that  upon  the  receipt  of  this  intelli- 
gence, Colonel  Burns  left  the  camp  and  returned  to  Missouri  ; 
this,  however,  is  incorrect,  as  both  Burns  and  Clarke  remained 
with  the  Pro-Slavery  faction  until  the  termination  of  the  Law- 
rence difficulties. 

Neither  Clarke  nor  his  companion  knew  any  of  the  men 
with  whom  they  had  this  fight.  There  was,  therefore,  no  per- 
sonal malice  nor  previous  quarrel  between  them.  It  seems 
proper  to  add,  that  Major  Clarke  not  only  does  not  wish  to 
shun  a  thorough  judicial  inquiry  into  his  own  conduct  in  this 
affair,  but  actually  desires  such  an  investigation.  He  is,  more- 
over, willing  to  abide  by  the  result.  It  is  understood  that  the 
Major  is  at  present  at  St.  Louis,  upon  business  connected  with 
his  Indian  agency,  but  will  shortly  return  to  his  residence  near 
Leoompton. 

And  now,  as  our  letter  is  already  of  the  largest  we  will  for- 
bear further  writing  until  General  Whitfield's  mules  shall  have 
hauled  us  to  Shawnee  Mission,  for  we  have  accepted  an  invitation 
to  accompany  the  Governor  to  that  place,  from  whence  we  hope 
to  date  our  next  epistle. 


144 


THE  GUBERNATORIAL  MANSION. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

THE  EXECUTIVE  OFFICE  AT  SHAWNEE  MISSION. 

I  am  writing  in  the  Executive  office,  and  for  that  matter,  the 
private  bed-room,  public  parlor,  library  and  general  sanctum  of 
his  Excellency  Wilson  Shannon,  Governor  of  Kansas  Territory. 
Now,  as  some  of  your  readers  may  suppose  that  to  be  Governor 
of  Kansas  is  a  very  high,  very  mighty  and  very  easy  office — a 
sort  of  sinecure,  in  fact,  where  the  favored  incumbent  wears 
"purple  and  fine  linen,"  and  "fares  sumptuously  every  day" — 
I  will  take  the  liberty  to  dispel  the  illusion,  and  convince  the 
boldest  visionary  that  the  Governorship  of  Kansas  is  a  reality 
of  the  sternest  kind,  by  a  pen  and  ink  sketch  of  our  present 
surroundings  ;  and  remember,  too,  that  this  is  the  most  respon- 
sible looking  building  which  we  have  as  yet  seen  in  the  Territory, 
built  of  brick  and  of  considerable  dimensions. 

Well,  to  locate  the  Gubernatorial  apartment — it  is  some 
twenty  feet  square,  has  a  door  opening  out  upon  (that  Ameri- 
canism) a  "piazza;"  also  a  window,  with  a  vis-a-vis  of  two 
windows,  which  look  out  upon  a  picket-fenced  back  yard,  a 
hill-side  and  some  trees.  The  windows  are  shaded  by  faded 
chintz  curtains,  which,  even  in  their  original  freshness,  never  cost 
a  fortune  ;  a  double  curled-maple  four  poster,  which  assists  the 
sleeping  of  the  Governor  and  his  private  secretary,  occupies 
one  corner  of  the  room  ;  a  wash-stand  that  even  a  "  fashionable 
Biddy  "  would  look  askance  at,  stands  opposite  ;  betweeu  the 


MOST   PARTICULARLY  DEMOCRATIC.  145 

two,  a  little  table,  a  crooked  looking-glass,  and  a  huge  pile  of 
lawbooks,  fill  up  "  the  aching  void  f  while  a  rusty  stove,  with  its 
rustier  pipe,  warms  one-half  of  the  apartment,  which  is,  however, 
kept  even  more  than  comfortably  cool  by  the  ill-hung  door,  that 
lets  in  more  air  than  a  regiment  of  patent  ventilators  ;  in  medias 
res  stands  a  larger  table,  littered  with  piles  of  public  documents, 
newspapers,  and  writing  materials,  with  a  blue  Mackinaw  blanket 
by  way  of  covering,  on  which  11  Our  Special  Correspondent"  is  at 
this  moment  driving  a  pen  ;  the  corners  and  sides  of  the  room 
are  piled  up  with  books — law  predominating.  Everything,  in 
fact,  bespeaks  the  residence  of  one,  who  cultivates  the  brain 
rather  than  the  body.  The  Territorial  seal,  which,  with  a-half 
gallon  of  Marquand's  ink,  and  an  old  pair  of  breeches,  occupies 
a  box  at  the  foot  of  the  bed,  is  all  that  tells  of  the  power  vested 
in  its  occupant.  Add  to  this,  that  the  floor  is  uncarpeted,  and 
the  walls  more  than  slightly  dilapidated,  and  I  think  that  the 
reader  will  coucur  with  me  in  pronouncing  Wilson  Shannon  the 
most  literally  democratic  Governor  in  these  United  States.  For 
Durself,  we  are  willing  to  go  even  a  step  farther,  and  declare  that  if 
:he  "  sovereign  people,"  after  such  convincing  proofs  of  his  stern 
'epublicanism,  don't  make  him  next  President,  they  will  do  them- 
selves and  everybody  concerned  rank  injustice. 

I  bade  farewell  to  our  hospitable  friends  at  House  on  the 
3rairie,  near  Lecompton,  from  whence  our  last  letter  was  for- 
warded early  yesterday  morning,  and  wre  regret  to  add  that  we 
departed  with  a  sad  foreboding  that  ere  we  met  again  their 
•leasant  home  (which,  as  we  stated  in  our  last,  had  been  threat- 
ned  with  violence)  ;  might  be-  made  the  scene  of  strife  and 
loodshed,  for  suspicious  persons  were  heard  moving  about  the 
lace  during  the  night,  and  we,  ourself,  at  about  two  o'clock  in 
le  morning,  heard  distinctly  the  trampling  of  a  horse,  and  the 
iugling  accoutrements  of  its  rider,  as  he  twice  rode  round  the 
oase.    The  day,  even  for  December,  was  intensely  cold  (the 

7 


146  THE  SECRETARY  OF  STATE. 

mercury  standing  at  zero)  ;  the  landscape  looked  cheerless  in  the 
extreme,  and  the  sky  grey  and  wintry.  But  our  team,  with  a 
long  ambulance  attached  (the  whole  belonging  to  General  Whit- 
field, now  in  Washington),  proved  a  good  one  ;  and  the  vehicle, 
which,  like  most  ambulances,  or  "prairie  wagons,"  as  they  call 
them  here,  proved  rather  airy,  was  made  comfortable  by  wrap- 
ping ourselves  in  buffalo  robes  and  moccasins.  So  witli  the 
Governor's  private  secretary  (Mr.  Shannon),  for  a  driver,  we 
rolled  out  upon  the  road,  with  the  Governor  occupying  a  seat 
beside  his  son,  while  the  Secretary  of  State,  his  little  boy,  a 
bright-looking  youngster  of  nine,  and  "  Our  Correspondent," 
crowded  the  inside  of  the  conveyance. 

If  we  except  a  halt  at  Bean's,  where  we  ate  a  primitive  din- 
ner of  waxy-cold  biscuits,  and  that  external  "  hog  meat,"  which, 
if  possible,  was  colder  than  the  bread,  and  some  few  gettings  out 
to  walk  at  bad  places — for  the  natural  roads  of  Kansas  Territory 
proper,  are  equal,  if  not  superior,  to  any  in  the  world — there 
was  little  to  interrupt  the  shivering,  wearisome  monotony  of  our 
ride  ;  for  though  men  may  be  companionable  in  stagiug  it  at 
the  start,  their  conversational  intercourse  generally  terminates, 
unless  you  do  some  "  leg  stretching,"  with  the  first  twenty  miles, 
when  the  travellers,  in  most  cases,  subside  into  a  gloomy,  misan- 
thropic, half  dreamy  state,  which  lasts  until  a  halting-place 
thaws  them  out.  But  as  our  friend  Woodson,  the  Secretary  of 
State,  did  talk  to  us  during  a  portion  of  the  trip,  and  as  Wood- 
son began  life  by  sticking  type  in  "  old  Virginny,"  and  ended  his 
adventures  in  that  section  of  country  by  becoming  the  editor 
and  proprietor  of  a  journal  in  Lynchburg ;  and  as  Woodson  is 
a  clever  fellow,  who  knows  how  to  tell  a  good  story  wTell.  we 
know  that  you  will  be  pleased  to  get  the  derivation  of  those 
much  quoted  "  Westernisms  " — Lynch  law  and  bowie-knife— 
as  we  heard  them  from  his  lips. 

Lynch  law  owes  its  title  to  a  certain  Squire  Lynch — a  sten 


JUDGE   LYNCH'S  COURT-HOUSE. 


and  uncompromising  old  patriot,  who  lived  during  "  the  times 
that  tried  men's  souls,"  on  his  plantation,  distant  some  three 
miles  from  the  present  site  of  Lynchburg,  Ya.  It  was  the  cus- 
tom in  those  stirring  days  of  the  Revolution,  for  his  neighbors, 
when  they  caught  a  tory,  to  bring  the  unlucky  culprit  before 
Squire  Lynch,. who  at  once  organized  a  court  of  his  own  selec- 
tion, in  which  he  himself  was  judge,  jury,  and  counsel  for  the 
prisoner.  If  the  crime  were  proved,  he  would  proceed  to  pass 
sentence,  by  awarding  from  fifty  to  one  hundred  stripes,  to  be 
well  laid  on  ;  or,  it  may  be,  even  a  graver  penalty,  in  proportion 
to  the  magnitude  of  the  offence.  And  it  is  note-worthy,  that  as 
this  was  a  court  from  whence  there  was  no  appeal,  few  thought  of 
preaching  "  higher  law,"  or  taking  exception  to  his  Honor's 
findings. 

Our  informant  adds,  that  the  old  man's  memory  is  still  greatly 
revered  in  that  section  of  the  "  Old  Dominion,"  while  his  descend- 
ants are  justly  reckoned  among  those  highly  respectable  people, 
"the  first  families  of  Virginia."  A  grandson  of  the  Judge, 
Charles  H.  Lynch,  Esq.,  still  resides  upon  the  paternal  estate  ; 
and  a  venerable  oak,  one  of  the  real  old  settlers,  is  even  now 
pointed  out  to-  the  curious,  as  the  canopy  under  which  Judge 
Lynch  held  his  rough  and  ready  court  ;  those  who  have  seen  it, 
say  that  the  notches  are  still  visible  upon  its  moss-grown  trunk, 
vhich,  in  "  old  lang  syne,"  kept  the  cords  from  slipping,  while 
he  tory  got  his  dose.  The  town  of  Lynchburg  takes  its  name 
rom  the  Judge,  and  it  is  rumored  that  the  grandson  would 
ooner  lose  an  arm  than  part  with  the  old  homestead  and  its  tory- 
launted  tree. 

The  bowie  knife  yarn  is  simply  this  : — Mr.  Sam  Bowie,  who 
■itronized  Arkansas  in  those  good  old  times  when  Arkansas 
as  what  it  used  to  be,  being  "curious"  in  his  style  of  fighting, 
ranted  tools  to  suit  himself.    He  therefore  invented  a  singular 
nife,  which  he  wore  inside  his  coat  back,  and  as  this  peculiar 


148 


THE  ORIGIN  OF  THE  BOWIE  KNIFE. 


instrument  gained  a  wider  and  bloodier  popularity,  it  took  the 
name  of  its  originator,  until  the  bowie  knife  has  outlived  the 
recollection  of  a  man  who  knew  how  to  use  favorite  weapon 
as  well  as  any  citizen  of  the  once  far-famed  Territory  of 
Arkansas. 

Our  next  paragraph  should  be  headed  "  How  a  Governor 
and  his  Suite  Look  while  Travelling  in  Kansas."  And  how 
they  do  look  !  You  should  have  seen  His  Excellency  Governor 
Shannon  yesterday,  as  we  footed  it  up  a  steep  hill  at  Wakarusa 
Creek.  The  Governor  was  ahead  ;  he  sported,  what  a  New 
York  "  b'hoy  "  would  have  termed  a  "  most  shocking  bad  hat,'-' 
while  his  great  coat  and  continuations  looked  almost  as  rusty  as 
the  country-built  boots,  which  had  evidently  known  no  blacking 
for  a  week.  Add  to  these  habiliments  a  red  worsted  comforter, 
with  the  ends  tucked  in  at  the  breast,  and  a  pair  of  buckskin 
riding-gloves,  and  you  will  have  a  very  precise  inventory  of  the 
Governor's  outer  man  upon  that  memorable  occasion.  As  for 
the  Secretary  of  State,  he  was  "  deil  a  bit  better  off  for  clothes" 
than  his  chief ;  in  fact,  he  himself  affirmed  that  he  looked  more 
like  a  M  Border  Ruffian  "  than  any  of  us.  ■  The  private  secretary 
wras  an  improvement  on  either,  and  we  natter  ourself  that  your 
humble  servant,  the  writer,  was  the  most  fashionably  (to  quote 
from  Toots)  "  got  up  "  individual  in  "  the  crowd,"  and  even  he 
didn't  cut  a  very  insinuating  figure  with  a  smashed-up  cap  and  a 
pair  of  gray  breeches  turned  up  over  his  boots — to  say  nothing 
of  the  butt  end  of  a  six  shooter  and  the  nozzle  of  a  whisky 
flask  which  peered  out  suspiciously  from  either  side-pocket.  To 
complete  the  picture,  add,  forms  doubled  up  with  the  cold, 
watering  eyes,  blue  noses,  frost-pinched  cheeks,  and  such  like 
"  compliments  of  the  season,"  and  we  will  add  no  more  on  this 
head. 


GROWING    SERIOUS.  149 


CHAPTER  XYI.  ' 

THE  PRO-SLAVERY  SIDE  OP  THE  KANSAS  WAR. 


And  now  it  is  high  time  to  be  serious.  We  must  really 
"quit  poking  fun"  at  Kansas,  at  least  for  this  letter.  Gover- 
nor Shannon  has  been  kind  enough  to  state  the  facts  as  they 
have  come  to  his  knowledge,  in  relation  to  the  rise,  progress,  and 
temporary  termination  (for  we  are  but  too  fearful  that  the  pre- 
sent calm  is  but  a  lull  in  the  wild  conflict  of  contending  factions) 
of  the  unhappy  difficulties  in  this  Territory.  We  believe  that 
we  are  in  possession  of  the  main  chain  of  evidence  ;  for  the 
details,  we  must  refer  the  reader  to  the  accompanying  affidavits, 
letters,  and  official  despatches,  which,  with  statements  taken 
down  by  "  Our  Correspondent,"  would  seem  to  place  the  "  Pro- 
Slavery  party  "  in  a  generally  favorable  position.  The  genuine- 
ness of  the  documents  presented  may  be  implicitly  relied  upon, 
as  they  have  been  carefully  copied  by  ourself  from  the  files  at 
the  Territorial  Executive  office.  In  giving  the  Governor's 
narrative  of  events,  which  we  have  taken  down  from  his  own 
lips,  we  disclaim  any  responsibility  for  the  subject  matter,, 
beyond  the  mere  style  of  its  composition.  We  therefore  ask  an 
impartial  hearing  for  Governor  Shannon's  statement  of  facts  in 
relation  to  the  late  troubles  in  Kansas  Territory,  as  he  has 
derived  them  from  his  own  personal  observation,  or  the  deposi- 
tions, correspondence,  and  verbal  statements  of  reliable,  men  of 
both  parties  in  and  abor.<  the  Territory. 


150  HICKORY  POINT  DIFFICULTIES. 

He  says  : — "  On  or  about  the  24th  of  November,  1855,  a 
difficulty  occurred  between  a  Pro-Slavery  man  of  the  name  of 
Coleman,  and  a  Free  State  man  named  Dow,  in  relation  to  "a 
claim  this  resulted  in  a  rencounter,  in  which  Coleman  killed 
Dow.  This  gave  rise  to  considerable  excitement  among  the 
Free  State  people  in  that  neighborhood,  which  is  known  as  the 
Hickory  Point  settlement.  In  this  place  there  are  about  one 
hundred  Free  State,  and  fifteen  or  sixteen  Pro-Slavery,  families. 
The  excitement  ran  high,  and  the  Free  State  men  threatened  to 
take  Coleman,  try,  and  hang  him,  without  any  legal  judicial 
investigation,  by  a  court  and  jury  of  their  own. 

"There  were  also  among  the  settlers  at  Hickory  Point  two 
men,  named  Buckley  and  Hargis.  They  were  Pro-Slavery  men, 
friends  of  Coleman,  and  witnesses  to  the  difficulty  between  him- 
self and  Dow.  Some  two  days  after  the  killing  of  Dow,  a  party 
of  seventy-five  men — a  majority  of  whom  resided  in  and  about 
Lawrence — went  to  Hickory  Point,  to  the  residence  of  Hargis, 
and  demanded  of  these  friends  of  Coleman  what  their  testimony 
in  the  matter  would  be.  They  repeated  the  circumstances  as 
they  intended  to  relate  them.  To  this  these  Free  State  men, 
who  were  all  armed  with  Sharpe's  rifles,  replied  (at  the  same 
time  cocking  their  guns  and  pointing  them  at  the  breasts  of 
Buckley  and  Hargis),  "  What  you  say  is  false  ;  the  circumstances 
are  not  so.  We  give  you  until  Monday  to  make  a  correct 
statement  of  the  facts.  If  you  refuse  we  will  kill  you." 
This  was  on  Saturday.  Before  the  time  given  had  expired,  tbe 
Free  State  men  burned  down  the  houses  of  Buckley,  Hargis  aud 
Coleman.  In  so  doing  they  turned  the  family  of  Buckley  out  of 
doors.  This  family  saved  nothing  of  their  wardrobe  or  furniture 
but  the  clothes  in  which  they  fled." 

The  following  affidavits  of  Buckley  and  Hargis  will  come  in 
very  properly  here — 


Buckley's  affidavit. 


151 


AFFIDAVIT  OF  HARRISON  W.  BUCKLEY,  IN  RELATION  TO  THE  RESCUE  OF 
BRANSON,  AND  THE  DIFFICULTIES,  HOUSE-BURNINGS,  ETC.,  AT  HICKORY 
POINT. 

United  States  of  America,  Territory  of  Kansas,  ss. 
Be  it  remembered,  that  on  this  6th  day  of  December,  in  the  year  A.  D. 

1855,  personally  appeared  before  me,  J.  M.  Burrell,  one  of  the  Associate 
Justices  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  said  Territory  of  Kansas,  Harrison 
Buckley,  of  lawful  age,  who,  being  by  me  duly  sworn,  saith  that  he  is  a 
citizen  of  the  County  of  Douglas,  and  has  resided  therein  since  30th  day 
of  March  last,  and  has  resided  during  all  that  time  at  Hickory  Grove ;  that 
he  was  informed  on  good  authority,  and  which  he  believed  to  be  true,  that 
Jacob  Branson  had  threatened  his  life,  both  before  and  after  the  difficulty 
between  Coleman  and  Dow,  which  led  to  the  death  of  the  latter.  He  under- 
stands that  Branson  swore  that  deponent  should  not  breathe  the  pure  air 
three  minutes  after  he  returned,  this  deponent  at  this  time  having  gone 
down  to  Westport,  in  Missouri.  That  it  was  these  threats,  made  in  various 
shapes,  that  made  this  deponent  really  fear  for  his  life,  and  which  induced 
him  to  make  affidavit  against  the  said  Branson,  and  procure  a  peace  war- 
rant to  issue  and  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  Sheriff  of  Douglas  County. 
That  this  deponent  was  with  the  said  Sheriff  (S.  J.  Jones)  at  the  time  the 
said  Branson  was  arrested,  which  took  place  about  two  or  three  o'clock  in 
the  morning.  That  Branson  was  in  bed  when  he  was  arrested  by  said 
Sheriff ;  that  no  pistol  or  other  weapon  was  presented  at  the  said  Branson 
by  any  one.  That  after  the  arrest,  and  after  the  company  with  the  Sheriff 
had  proceeded  about  five  miles  in  the  direction  of  Lecompton,  the  county 
seat  of  Douglas  County,  the  said  sheriff  and  his  posse  were  set  upon  by 
between  thirty  and  forty  men,  who  came  out  from  behind  a  house,  all 
armed  with  Sharpe's  rifles,  presented  their  guns  cocked,  and  called  out 
asking  who  they  were,  when  said  Branson  replied  that  they  had  got  him  a 
prisoner,  and  these  armed  men  called  on  him  to  come  away.  Branson 
then  went  over  on  their  side,  and  Sheriff  Jones  said  they  were  doing 
something  they  would  regret  hereafter,  in  resisting  the  laws ;  that  he  was 
Sheriff  of  Douglas  County,  and  as  such  had  arrested  Branson.  These 
armed  men  replied  that  they  had  no  laws,  no  Sheriff,  and  no  Governor, 
and  that  they  knew  no  laws  but  their  guns.  The  Sheriff,  being  over- 
powered, said  to  these  armed  men  that  if  they  took  him  by  force  of  arms 
he  had  no  more  to  say, 'or  something  to  that  effect,  and  then  we  rode  off. 
This  deponent  further  states  that  there  have  been  three  houses  burnt  in 


152 


HARGIS'S  AFFIDAVIT. 


the  Hickory  Grove  settlement ;  one  was  this  deponent's  house,  another 
belonged  to  Josiah  Hargis,  and  the  third  to  said  Coleman.  All  I  had  in  the 
•world  was  burnt  up,  leaving  my  wife  and  children  without  clothing.  This 
deponent's  wife  and  four  children  fled  to  Missouri,  where  they  still  remain 
with  their  relatives.  The  house  of  deponent  was  burnt  down,  as  it  is  said, 
shortly  before  daylight  in  the  morning.  The  -wives  and  children  of  both 
Coleman  and  Hargis  also  fled  to  Missouri,  where  they  still  remain.  There 
were  about  fifteen  or  sixteen  law-abiding  families  in  the  settlement  called 
the  Hickory  Grove  settlement  about  the  time  these  differences  sprung  up; 
they  have  all  been  forced,  by  terror  and  threats  of  these  armed  men,  to 
flee  with  their  wives  and  children  to  the  State  of  Missouri  for  protection, 
and  still  remain  there.  These  armed  men  have  repeatedly,  in  my  presence, 
said  that  they  would  resist  the  law  by  force,  and  that  there  was  no  law  in 
this  Territory.  These  threats  have  been  repeatedly  made  by  these  men  for 
the  last  three  months.    And  further  this  deponent  saith  not. 

H.  W.  Buckley. 

Sworn  and  subscribed,  the  day  and  year  above  stated,  before  me,  J.  M. 
Burrell,  Associate  Justice  Supreme  Court,  Kansas  Territory. 

Here  follows  the  Affidavit  of  Josiah  Hargis,  a  Pro-Slavery 
man,  and  a  member  of  the  Sheriff's  fosse  at  the  time  of  Bran- 
son's rescue  from  Sheriff  Jones.- 

AFFIDAVIT  OF  JOSIAH  HARGIS  IN  RELATION  TO  THE  RESCUE   OF  BRANSON,  AND 
THE  DIFFICULTIES,  HOUSE-BURNINGS,  ETC.,  AT  HICKORY  POINT. 

United  States  of  America,  Territory  of  Kansas,  ss  : 

Be  it  remembered,  that  on  this  Vfh  day  of  December,  A.  D.  1855,  per- 
sonally came  before  me,  S.  G.  Cato,  one  of  the  Associate  Justices  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  Territory  of  Kansas,  Josiah  Hargis,  of  lawful  age, 
who,  being  duly  sworn,  deposeth  and  saith  that,  on  or  about  the  26th  day 
of  November,  1855,  in  Douglas  County,  Sheriff  Jones  called  upon  him,  with 
nine  others,  to  act  as  a  posse  to  arrest  one  Jacob  Branson  under  a  peace 
warrant  issued  by  Hugh  Cameron,  Justice  of  the  Peace  ;  that  he  proceeded 
with  said  sheriff  to  Hickory  Point,  in  said  county,  and  there  arrested  said 
Branson,  with  whom  they  proceeded  in  the  direction  of  Lawrence ;  when 
near  a  house  on  the  Wakarusa  an  armed  mob,  amounting  to  between 
thirty  and  forty  men,  rushed  from  behind  6aid  house,  and  by  force  did 
rescue. said  Branson  out  of  the  hands  "6f  said  sheriff  and  posse,  and,  in 


HARGTS's  AFFIDAVIT  CONTINUED. 


153 


defiance  of  said  sheriff's  command,  did  take  said  Branson,  and  refuse  to 
deliver  him  to  said  sheriff;  that  the  said  sheriff  told  the  said  mob  that  he 
held  said  Branson  under  a  peace  warrant,  properly  issued  by  a  legally 
authorized  officer,  and  that  he  was  sheriff  of  said  county  of  Douglas,  and 
charged  with  the  execution  of  said  writ.  The  leader  of  said  mob  replied  to 
said  officer  that  they  knew  him  as  Mr.  Jones,  but  not  as  sheriff  of  Douglas 
County.  He  then  told  them  that  he  would  call  put  the  militia  to  enforce 
the  law.  Their  reply  was  that  he  could  not  get  men  to  enforce  said  laws. 
He  told  them  then,  that  he  would  call  on  the  Governor  for  assistance,  to 
which  the  said  mob  replied  that  they  had  no  laws  and  no  officers,  and  to 
pitch  in.  Said  mob  stood  with  their  guns  cocked  and  presented  at  the 
time  of  said  rescue. 

This  deponent  further  saith,  that  one  H.  W.  Buckley,  of  said  County  of 
Douglas,  was  with  said  sheriff  at  the  time  of  said  rescue,  as  one  of  said 
sheriff's  posse ;  that,  during  the  same  night  on  which  said  rescue  was 
made,  said  affiant  saw  a  light  in  the  direction  of  said  Buckley's  house,  and 
that  he  fully  believes  said  house  was  at  that  time  being  burned ;  that  he 
believes,  from  circumstances  within  his  knowledge,  that  said  house,  toge- 
ther with  his  own,  was  burned  by  persons  concerned  with  said  mob ;  and 
that  he  has  reason  to  believe  that  some  of  said  houses  were  fired  by  said 
Branson  aforesaid,  assisted  by  a  German  commonly  called  Dutch  Charley, 
and  that  they  were  counseled  and  advised  thereto  by  one  Farley.  This 
affiant  further  says  that,  at  the  time  of  the  rescue  of  said  prisoner,  he  was 
at  a  house  near  Hickory  Point,  and  that  he  there  saw  three  women  who 
told  him  that  there  had  been  an  armed  force  there  that  day,  who  had  noti- 
fied them  to  leave,  and  all  other  Pro-Slavery  families  in  the  neighborhood, 
since  when  said  families  have  left  said  neighborhood  and  fled  to  the  State 
of  Missouri.  Said  affiant  further  says  that  he  believes  there  were  at  that 
time  in  said  neighborhood  about  fifteen  Pro-Slavery  families,  nearly  all  of 
whom  have  fled  as  aforesaid  to  the  State  of  Missouri  for  protection.  Said 
armed  force  was  represented  to  consist  of  from  one  hundred  to  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  armed  men.    And  further  this  deponent  saith  not. 

Josiah  Hargis. 

Sworn  and  subscribed  before  me,  S.  G.  Cato,  associate  Justice,  Supreme 
Court,  Kansas  Territory. 

[Iv  ote. — The  number  of  these  men  was  probably  exaggerated.  There  is 
also  a  discrepancy  in  the  two  affidavits  as  to  the  direction  in  which  the 

7* 


154 


IRRITATING  CAUSES. 


Sheriff's  party  was  going  at  the  time  when  this  rescue  is  alleged  to  have 
been  effected.  One  deponent  says  towards  Lecompton,  and  the  other 
seems  equally  positive  that  it  was  Lawrence.] 

"  Terrified  by  these  lawless  proceedings,  the.sixteen  Pro-Slav &m 
families  residing  at  Hickory  Point  fled  with  their  women  and 
children  into  Missouri,  where  their  accounts  of  the  treatment  to 
which  their  friends  had  been  subjected,  excited  the  most  intense 
indignation  among  the  Slaveholders  of  that  State.  From  these 
stories,  exaggerated  as  they  spread,  and  it  may  be  too  highly 
colored  by  their  original  narrators,  the  impression  became  cur- 
rent throughout  Missouri  that  the  Free  State  party  of  Kansas, 
armed  with  Sharpe's  rifles  and  revolvers,  intended  to  expel  the 
Pro-Slavery  men  from  that  Territory.  It  is  alleged  that  such 
threats  were  made  by  individuals  of  the  Free  State  party  ;  but 
as  they  do  not  appear  to  have  come  from  responsible  persons,  it 
would  be  unfair  to  infer  that  this  is  the  avowed  purpose  of 
their  party.  In  the  meantime,  Buckley,  Hargis,  and  Coleman 
— who  had  fled  so  soon  as  they  could  escape  from  the  band  who 
were  threatening  their  execution — made  their  way  to  the  Execu- 
tive office  at  Shawnee  Mission,  K.  T.,  to  have  an  interview  with 
myself.  I  was  absent  at  the  time.  When  I  returned,  Coleman 
had  surrendered  himself  to  the  Sheriff  of  Douglas  County  (Jones), 
who  happened  to  be  at  the  mission.  Buckley  and  Hargis  stated 
their  grievances  to  me,  and  informed  me  that  a  man  named  Bran- 
son, of  the  Free  State  party,  and  one  of  the  residents  at  Hickory 
Point,  with  whom  Dow  (the  person  killed)  had  resided,  was  the 
leader  of  the  band  who  had  threatened  and  endeavored  to  extort 
false  evidence  from  them.  Upon  these  representations,  I  ad- 
vised Buckley  to  go  before  a  magistrate,  or  any  judicial  officer 
of  the  Territory,  make  affidavit  to  the  facts  as  regarded  the 
threats  of  Branson,  obtain  a  peace-warrant  against  him,  and  thus 
have  him  bound  over  to  keep  the  peace.  As  Sheriff  Jones  was 
about  starting  with  Coleman  in  custody,  and  Buckley  and  Har- 


sheriff  Jones'  affidavit. 


155 


gis  in  company,  on  their  way  to  obtain  a  peace-warrant  against 
Branson,  an  express  arrived  from  Hickory  Point,  which  had 
ridden  all  night,  advising  Coleman  and  his  two  friends  not  to 
return  to  that  settlement,  as  they  would  certainly  be  killed  by 
the  Free  State  party.  Sheriff  Jones,  with  much  difficulty,  and 
by  guaranteeing  their  safety,  at  length  succeeded  in  persuading 
them  to  accompany  him  to  Lecompton,  the  county  seat  of 
Douglas  County,  in  which  all  these  difficulties  had  occurred,  and 
from  whence  it  was  of  course  necessary  that  the  peace-warrant 
should  be  issued.  On  his  arrival  there,  Buckley,  in  pursu- 
ance with  my  advice,  went  before  a  justice  of  the  peace — ■ 
Mr.  Cameron — made  affidavit  against  Branson,  and  obtained 
a  peace-warrant,  which  the  justice  placed  in  the  hands  of 
Sheriff  Jones  for  execution,  who  immediately  summoned  a 
posse  of  ten  men  (citizens  of  Douglas  County)  to  serve  the 
writ." 

The  affidavit  of  Samuel  J.  Jones,  sheriff  of  Douglas  County, 
which  we  introduce  here,  will  put  the  reader  in  possession  of  the 
facts  connected  with  the  rescue  of  the  prisoner  Branson  from 
his  posse,  as  alleged  by  the  Pro-Slavery  party. 

It  will  be  perceived  that  the  sheriff's  deposition  is  corroborated 
for  the  most  part,  by  those  of  Buckley  and  Hargis. 

AFFIDAVIT  OF  SAMUEL  J.  JONES,  SHERIFF  OF  DOUGLAS  COUNTY,  K.  T.,  IN 
RELATION  TO  THE  RESCUE  OF  HIS  PRISONER  BRANSON,  AND  THE  CONDUCT 
OF  THE  FREE  STATE  PARTY  IN  LAWRENCE. 

United  States  of  America,  Territory  of  Kansas : 

Be  it  remembered,  that,  on  the  7th  day  of  December,  A.  D.  1855,  per- 
sonally came  before  me,  S.  G.  Cato,  one  of  the  Associate  Justices  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  Territory  of  Kansas,  Samuel  J.  Jones,  Sheriff  of  the 
County  of  Douglas,  and  Territory  aforesaid,  of  lawful  age,  who  being  by 
me  duly  sworn,  deposeth  and  saith,  that  on  the  26th  day  of  November, 
A.  D.  1855,  he  received  from  the  hands  of  Hugh  Cameron,  a  legally 


1^6 


JONES'  AFFIDAVIT  CONTINUED. 


appointed  justice  of  the  peace  for  said  County  of  Douglas,  a  peace-war- 
rant issued  by  said  justice  of  the  peace,  and  to  him  directed  as  sheriff, 
obtained  upon  the  oath  of  one  H.  W.  Buckley,  against  one  Jacob  Bran- 
son, and  immediately  after  receiving  said  warrant  he  summoned  a  posse 
of  ten  men  and  proceeded  to  the  house  of  said  Branson,  and  made  the 
arrest,  and  on*  his  return  he  and  his  posse  were  met  by  a  mob  of  some 
forty  men,  armed  with  Sharpe's  rifles,  who  forcibly  rescued  the  prisoner 
out  of  his  hands,  and  defied  his  recapture,  swearing  at  the  same  time  that 
they  recognized  no  law  in  the  Territory,  or  no  officers,  from  the  Governor 
to  the  lowest  officer,  and  relied  only  upon  their  rifles  as  the  law  of  the 
land,  and  would  at  all  times  defend  themselves  from  being  arrested  by  any 
process  issued  by  any  officer  of  the  said  Territory ;  that  he  immediately 
made  requisition  on  Governor  Wilson  Shannon  for  a  sufficient  force  to 
arrest  the  said  Jacob  Branson,  and  execute  other  process  in  his  hands  as 
sheriff  of  said  county ;  that  the  said  Jacob  Branson  was  taken  into  the 
town  of  Lawrence,  in  said  county,  and  there,  as  he  verily  believes,  as  he 
was  informed  by  good  authority,  tried  and  acquitted  by  the  citizens  of  the 
said  town,  without  any  legal  investigation ;  that  a  mob  of  some  fifteen  or 
twerty  threatened  to  tar  and  feather  and  inflict  other  punishment  upon 
the  justice  of  the  peace  who  issued  the  warrant ;  that  he,  as  sheriff,  has 
been  repeatedly  insulted  by  the  citizens  of  the  said  town  of  Lawrence, 
and  threatened  with  violence  if  he  attempted  to  execute  any  process  in 
his  hands  against  any  citizen  of  that  place,  and  he  verily  believes  that  he 
would  be  resisted,  and  violence  committed  upon  his  person,  in  attempting 
to  execute  a  legal  process  in  said  towm ;  thatvthe  citizens  of  that  place  and 
vicinity  are  all  armed  with  Sharpe's  rifles  for  the  avowed  purpose  of 
resisting  the  execution  of  the  laws  of  this  Territory ;  that  they  are  daily 
being  drilled  for  that  purpose  alone ;  that  the  mob  who  rescued  the  said 
Jacob  Branson  out  of  his  hands,  he  verily  believes,  were  induced  to  do 
so  by  the  citizens  of  Lawrence,  and  that  the  public  newspapers  of  that 
place  openly  recommend  and  call  upon  the  citizens  to  resist  the  laws  of 
the  Territory,  and  that  the  prisoner,  Jacob  Branson,  and  a  portion  of  the 
mob  who  rescued  him  from  his  custody,  he  verily  believes  to  be  at  this 
time  in  the  town  of  Lawrence,  or  secreted  by  the  citizens  of  that  place, 
and  that  warlike  preparations  are  being  made  by  the  citizens  of  Lawrence 
for  the  purpose  of  resisting  the  execution  of  the  process  in  his  hands, 
and  that  it  would  not  be  prudent  to  attempt  to  execute  said  process  with- 


JOHN   P.  WOOD'S  STATEMENT. 


151 


out  a  very  strong  force  to  assist  him,  and  further  this  deponent  saith 

S.  J.  Jones, 
Sheriff,  Douglas  County,  Kansas  Territory. 

Sworn  and  subscribed  before  me,  S.  G.  Cato,  Associate  Justice  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Kansas  Territory. 

The  Governor  continued — "  This  rescue  took  place  on  Tuesday 
morning,  the  21th  of  November,  at  about  two,  a.m.  The  rescuing 
party  then  returned  to  Lawrence,  where  they  held  a  meeting,  at 
eight  o'clock,  a.m.,  on  the  same  day.  Branson,  the  prisoner, 
presided,  dressed,  as  it  is  said,  in  a  military  uniform,  while  S  N. 
Wood,  the  leader  and  spokesman  of  the  rescuing  party,  made 
speeches  of  an  incendiary  character,  glorying  in  the  triumph  of 
the  Free  State  men  over  the  laws  of  the  Territory. 

The  following  document  comes  in  here,  as  being  pertinent  to 
matters  alluded  to  by  Governor  Shannon  in  the  foregoing  para- 
graph. 

STATEMENT  OP  JOHN  P.  WOOD,  IN  RELATION  TO  CIRCUMSTANCES  WHICH  OC- 
CURRED IN  THE  TOWN  OP  LAWRENCE,  SHORTLY  AFTER  THE  RESCUE  OF  THE 
PRISONER  BRANSON,  FROM  SHERIFF  JONES;  TAKEN  DECEMBER  1,  1855. 

Mr.  Wood  states  that  he  was  in  Lawrence  on  or  about  the  27 th  and  28th 
of  November,  1855,  and  was  going  up  street  when  he  met  a  Mr.  C.  W. 
Babcock,  who  informed  him  that  on  the  night  before,  Branson  had  been 
rescued  from  Sheriff  Jones,  by  a  number  of  armed  men.  As  Babcock  and 
Wood  continued  up  the  street,  a  man  named  S.  N.  Wood  approached  them, 
dressed  in  a  military  uniform,  with  sword  on,  etc.  Some  one  proposed 
three  cheers  for  S.  N.  Wood,  the  rescuer  of  Branson.  I  heard  Wood  ad- 
mit that  he  was  with  the  mob  who  rescued  Branson ;  he  moreover  gave  the 
names  of  seven  or  eight  others,  among  whom  were  those  of  Abbot,  Smith, 
and  Curless.  I  saw  Curless  afterwards,  and  asked  him  why  he  was  en- 
gaged in  such  an  outrage.  He  or  some  one  else  told  me  that  theMeaders 
informed  him  that  Sheriff  Jones  had  no  writ  for  Branson,  but  had  only 
arrested  him  to  prevent  his  giving  evidence  against  Coleman. 


Note. — Governor  Shannon's  secretary  informs  us  .  that  the 


158 


THE  ABSENTEE. 


gentleman  who  makes  this  statement  (Mr.  John  P.  Wood)  is  an 
Illinoisian,  a  citizen  of  Lawrence,  and  Probate  Judge  of  Doug- 
las County  ;  he  is  also,  a  Pro-Slavery  man  in  his  politics,  and  a 
large  property  holder  in  Lawrence,  from  whence  he  is  at  present 
an  absentee,  for  fear  of  personal  violence,  with  which  he  has 
been  threatened  by  the  Free  State  party  in  that  town.  He  has 
made  himself  obnoxious  to  the  Free  Soilers,  by  holding  office 
under  what  they  call  "The  Missouri  Bogus  Legislature  " 


A  MODEST  REQUEST. 


159 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

GOVERNOR  SHANNON'S  HISTORY  OF  THE  WAKARUSA  WAR. 

"  From  this  day  forth  the  Free  State  party  in  Lawrence  openly 
commenced  their  military  organization,  by  drilling,  sending  out 
their  runners — as  is  proven  by  the  fact  that  they  collected  men 
from  poiuts  even  as  far  distant  as  eighty  miles — and  otherwise 
putting  their  town  in  a  position  to  resist,  by  force  of  arms,  the 
legally  constituted  authorities  of  Kansas  Territory." 

"  Upon  the  same  night,  about  eight  o'clock,  I  received  a  dis- 
patch, by  express,  from  the  Sheriff  of  Douglas  County  (Jones), 
informing  me  that  his  prisoner,  Branson,  had  been  rescued  by  an 
armed  mob.  This  dispatch  was  brought  by  Mr.  Hargis,  who 
stated  verbally,  at  the  same  time,  that  the  Free  State  party  had 
that  day  threatened  to  take  Coleman  (then  in  the  custody  of 
Sheriff  Jones)  from  the  sheriff,  hang  him,  and  also  kill 
Jones.  The  sheriff's  letter  asked  for  three  thousand  troops,  to 
protect  him  in  the  execution  of  the  law.  It  was  evidently  writ- 
ten under  a  state  of  considerable  excitement  and  apprehension." 

The  annexed  is  a  copy  of  the  letter  from  Sheriff  Jones,  asking 
for  three  thousand  troops — a  good  round  number  by  the  way — to 
subdue  but  forty  Free  State  disorganizers. 

SHERIFF  JONES  TO  GOVERNOR  SHANNON  : 

Douglas  County,  K.  T.,  Nov.  27, 1855. 

Last  night  I,  with  a  posse  of  ten  men,  arrested  one  Jacob  Branson 
by  virtue  of  a  peace-warrant  regularly  issued,  who,  on  our  return  was  res- 


160 


THREE  THOUSAND  AGAINST  FORTY. 


cued  by  a  party  of  forty  armed  men,  who  rushed  upon  us  suddenly  from 
behind  a  house  upon  the  road-side,  all  armed  to  the  teeth  with  Sharpe's 
rifles. 

You  may  consider  an  open  rebellion  as  having  already  commenced,  &g| 
I  call  upon  you  for  three  thousand  men  to  carry  out  the  laws.     Mr.  Hargis 
(the  bearer  of  the  letter),  will  give  you  more  particularly  the  circumstances. 
Most  Respectfully, 

Samuel  J.  Jones, 

Sheriff  of  Douglas  County. 

To  His  Excellency, 
Wilson  Shannon, 

Governor  of  Kansas  Territory. 

'*  As  these  facts  had  reached  me  in  an  official  manner,  from  a 
source  of  undoubted  reliability,  and  were,  moreover,  corrobor- 
ated by  much  verbal  testimony  as  well  as  written  evidence  ; 
and  as  these  latter  acts  of  outrage  (upon  the  part  of  the 
Free  State  party  of  Lawrence)  seemed  but  the  carrying  out  of 
their  previously  declared  intentions,  as  expressed  in  the  incendi- 
ary resolutions  passed  at  their  public  meetings,  which  have  from 
time  to  time  been  held  in  different  parts  of  this  Territory,  and 

of  which  the  following  may  be  quoted  as  a  specimen  • 

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  * 

"  Resolved,  That  we  owe  no  allegiance  or  obedience  to  the  tyrannical  en- 
actments of  this  spurious  legislature ;  that  their  laws  have  no  validity  or 
binding  force  upon  the  people  of  Kansas,  and  that  every  freeman  amongst 
.  us  is  at  full  liberty,  consistently  with  all  his  obligations  as  a  citizen  and  a 
man,  to  defy  and  resist  them,  if  he  chooses  so  to  do. 

*  *  *  ***** 

"Resolved,  That  we  will  endure  and  submit  to  these  laws  no  longer  than  the 
best  interests  of  the  Territory  require,  as  the  least  of  two  evils,  and  will  resist 
them  to  a  bloody  issue  so  soon  as  we  ascertain  that  peaceable  remedies 
shall  fail  and  forcible  resistance  shall  furnish  any  reasonable  prospect  of 
success ;  and  that,  in  the  meantime,  we  recommend  to  our  friends  through- 
out the  Territory  the  organization  and  disciplining  of  volunteer  companies, 
and  the  procurement  and  preparation  of  arms. 

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  * 


AN    UNORGANIZED  MILITIA. 


161 


[These  resolutions  are  literal  copies  of  the  originals,  as  they 
appeared  in  the  Herald  of  Freedom  for  September  15,  1855. 
This  paper  is  published  in  Lawrence,  K.  T.,  and  is  one  of  the 
avowed  organs  of  the  Free  State  party  in  Kansas.  The  resolu- 
tions quoted  were  passed  at  the  Free  State  Delegate  Conven- 
tion, holden  at  Big  Springs,  K.  T.,  on  the  5th  September,  1855, 
which  convention  also  nominated  Governor  Reeder  as  a  candi- 
date for  Congress,  and  fixed  upon  a  different  day  for  the  elec- 
tion from  that  prescribed  by  law.  This  nomination  Governor 
Reeder  accepted.] 

"  I -therefore  deemed  it  incumbent  upon  me,  as  the  chief  execu- 
tive of  Kansas  Territory,  to  enforce  the  laws  and  protect  the 
sheriff,  and  his  prisoner  Coleman,  from  the  violence  and  rescue 
which  had  been  threatened  and  in  part  carried  out  by  this  mob, 
for  I  firmly  believed  (being  in  possession  of  the  facts),  that  the 
overt  acts  just  committed  by  the  Free  State  party  were  but  the 
commencement  of  a  settled  plan  and  determination  to  resist  and 
bid  defiance  to  the  Territorial  laws,  in  accordance  with  the  reso- 
lutions already 'quoted. 

"  Under  all  these  circumstances,  I  felt  that  I  must  either  fur- 
nish Sheriff  Jones  with  a  sufficient  posse  to  carry  out  his  instruc- 
tions or  be  forced  into  the  disgraceful  alternative  of  surrender- 
ing the  Territorial  'government  into  the  hands  of  an  armed  and 
lawless  mob. 

"  And  it  may  here  be  stated  that  the  militia  of  Kansas  were  at 
this  time  (and  are  still)  totally  unorganized.  The  legislature 
had,  it  is  true,  elected  two  major  generals  in  the  Southern  and 
one  in  the  Northern  division,  as  well  as  some  brigadiers  ;  but 
so  far  as  the  rank  and  file  are  concerned,  the  organization  was 
not  even  commenced. 

"  With  the  view  of  furnishing  the  sheriff  with  a  sufficient  force 
to  serve  his  writs,  as  well  as  to  protect  himself  and  his  prisoner 
Coleman  against  the  threatened  violence  of  the  Free  State  mob 


162 


THE  GATHERING  OF  THE  CLANS. 


in  Lawrence,  I  issued  orders  to  Major  General  William  P. 
Richardson  (then  residing  in  Doniphan  County),  K.  T.,  to  col- 
lect as  large  a  force  as  he  could  in  his  division,  and  repair  with 
his  men,  with  all  practical  speed,  to  Lecompton,  where  he  was 
desired  to  place  his  command  under  the  orders  of  Sheriff  Jones. 

"  This  order  resulted  in  the  collection  of  from  one  to  two 
hundred  men.  Within  six  days  from  the  date  of  my  oraer, 
these  men  were  at  Lecompton,  where  General  Richardson  placed 
himself  and  his  command  under  the  orders  of  the  sheriff.  To 
the  best  of  my  belief  these  men  were  all  citizens  of  Kansas. 
The  Southern  division  of  the  militia  being  wholly  unorganized,  I 
simply  requested  Brigadier  General  Strickler,  then  residing  at 
Tecumseh,  distant  only  twelve  miles  from  Lecompton,  to  gather 
as  many  men  as  possible,  and  report  himself  and  command  in 
the  same  manner  as  General  Richardson. 

"These  instructions -bore  the  same  date  as  General  Richard- 
son's order,  and  resulted  in  the  collection  of  from  fifty  to  one 
hundred  men." 

The  following  are  copies  of  the  official  orders  issued  in  this 
emergency  to  Generals  Richardson  and  Strickler  : 

COPT  OF  GOVERNOR  SHANNON'S  INSTRUCTIONS  TO  MAJOR-GENERAL  WILLIAM 
P.  RICHARDSON,  COMMANDING  THE  MILITIA  OP  KANSAS  TERRITORY — 
CALLING  OUT  THE  MILITIA  AND  DIRECTING  THE  MANNER  IN  WHICH  THET 
SHALL  BE  EMPLOYED. 

Head  Quarters,  Shawnee»Mtssion,  K.  T.,  Nov.  27, 1855. 
Major-General  "William  P.  Richardson  : 
Sir: 

Reliable  information  has  reached  me  that  an  armed  military 
force  is  now  in  Lawrence,  or  in  that  vicinity,  in  open  rebellion  against  the 
laws  of  this  Territory;  and  that  they  have  determined  that  no  process  in 
the  hands  of  the  sheriff  of  that  county  shall  be  executed.  I  have 
received  a  letter  from  S.  J.  Jones,  the  sheriff  of  Douglas  County,  inform- 
ing me  that  he  had  arrested  a  man  under  a  warrant  placed  in  his  hands; 


shannon's  call  to  arms. 


163 


jid  while  conveying  him  to  Lecompton,  he  was  met  by  an  armed  force 
»f  some  forty  men,  who  rescued  the  prisoner  from  his  custody,  and  bid 
•pen  defiance  to  the  law.  I  am  also  duly  informed  that  a  band  of  armed 
nen  have  burned  a  number  of  houses,  destroyed  personal  property,  and 
urned  whole  families  out  of  doors.  This  has  occurred  in  Douglas 
bounty;  warrants  will  be  issued  against  these  men  and  placed  in  the 
lands  of  Mr.  Jones,  the  sheriff  of  that  county,  for  execution ;  who  has 
rritten  to  me,  demanding  three  thousand  men  to  aid  him  in  preserving 
he  peace  and  carrying  out  the  process  of  the  law. 

You  are  hereby  ordered  to  collect  together  as  large  a  force  a8 
ou  can  in  your  division,  and  repair  without  delay  to  Lecompton,  and 
eport  yourself  to  S.  J.  Jones,  Sheriff  of  Douglas  County.  You  will 
aform  him  of  the  number  of  men  under  your  control,  and  render  him 
11  the  assistance  in  your  power,  should  he  require  your  aid  in  the  execu- 
ion  of  any  legal  process  in  his  hands. 

The  forces  under  your  command  are  to  be  used  for  the  sole  purpose  of 
idiug  the  sheriff  in  executing  the  law,  and  for  none  other. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

Your  obt.  servt., 

Wilson  Shannon. 

[Note. — This  order  reached  Gen.  Richardson,  by  special  messenger,  at 
is  residence,  in  Doniphan  County,  K.  T.] 

Here  follow  the  orders  to  General  Stricklef  : 

OPT  OP  GOV.  SHANNON'S  ORDER  TO  GEN.  STRICKLER,  CALLING  UPON  THAT 
OFFICER  TO  COLLECT  MEN,  AND  GO  TO  THE  ASSISTANCE  OF  THE  SHERIFF 
OF  DOUGLAS  COUNTY. 

Head  Quarters,  Shawnee  Mission,  K.  T.,  Nov.  27th,  1855. 

rEN.  H.  J.  Strickler  : 
Sir:  ' 

I  am  this  moment  advised  by  letter  from  S.  J.  Jones,  sheriff  of 
'ouglas  County,  that  while  conveying  a  prisoner  to  Lecompton,  whom  he 
ad  arrested  by  virtue  of  a  peace-warrant,  he  was  met  by  a  band  of 
rmed  men,  who  took  said  prisoner  forcibly  out  of  his  possession,  and  bid 
ipen  defiance  to  the  execution  of  law  in  this  Territory.  He  has 
emanded  of  me  three  thousand  men  to  aid  him  in  carrying  out  the  legal 
rocess  in  his  hands.  As  the  Southern  Division  of  the  Militia  of  this 
erritory  is  not  yet  organized,  I  can  only-  request  you  to  collect  together 


164 


shannon's  army  outnumbered. 


jfs  large  a  force  as  you  can,  and  at  as  early  a  day  as  practicable,  an 
report  yourself,  -with  the  men  you  may  raise,  to  S.  J.  Jones,  Sheriff  o 
Douglas  County,  to  whom  you  will  give  every  assistance  in  your  pow< 
towards  the  execution  of  the  legal  process  in  his  hands.  Whatev( 
forces  you  may  bring  to  his  aid  are  to  be  used  for  the  sole  purpose  of  au 
ing  the  said  sheriff  in  the  execution  of  the  law,  and  none  other. 

It  is  expected  that  every  good  citizen  will  aid  and  assist  the  lawfi 
authorities  in  the  execution  of  the  laws  of  the  Territory  and  the  prese; 
vation  of  good  order. 

Your  obt.  servt., 

Wilson  Shannon. 

To  Gen.  Strickler, 

Tecumseh,  Shawnee  Co. 

"  I  presumed  as  a  matter  of  course,  and  intended,  that  a! 
these  men  should  be  drawn  entirely  from  the  citizens  subject  t 
militia  duty  in  Kansas  Territory.  At  that  time — as  the  sea 
of  difficulties  (Lawrence),  is  distant  some  forty  miles  from  th 
State  line  of  Missouri — it  never  for  a  moment  occurred  to  m 
that  the  citizens  of  that  State  would  cross  into  Kansas  o 
volunteer  their  aid  to  carry  out  her  laws.  I  at  first  presume! 
that  the  forces  collected  under  the  orders  issued  to  Genera] 
Richardson  and  Strickler  would  have  been  sufficient  to  hav 
protected  the  sheriff  in  the  performance  of  the  duties  entrustec 
to  him.  But  upon  the  concentration  of  the  forces  under  thes 
officers  at  Lecompton,  which  gave  us  a  total  of  but  two  hou 
dred  and  fifty  men,  the  Free  State  faction  collected  their  peop.L 
in  the  town  of  Lawrence,  until  their  reported  strength  reaches 
an  aggregate  of  six  hundred  men,  armed,  as  was  undoubted!; 
ascertained,  with  Sharpe's  rifles  and  revolvers. 

"  This  would  have  given  the  Free  State  faction  a  superiority 
over  the  militia  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  men,  without  reckon 
ing  that  which  they  would  derive  from  the  immense  superiority 
of  the  repeating  arms  with  which  they  were  amply  furnished 
while  General  Richardson's  command  were  principally  supplied 
with  fowling  pieces,  some  having  pistols  and  bowie  knives." 


WHY  MISSOURI  CROSSED  THE  BORDER. 


165 


0 

CHAPTER  XYIII. 

CONTAINS  A  DIGRESSION. 

"I  can  thus-  account  for  the  intense  excitement  which  was 
enerated  among  the  Pro-Slavery  men  of  the  Missouri  frontier 
y  these  events,  and  which  finally  resulted  in  their  flocking  to 
le  aid  of  the  upholders  of  Territorial  law  in  Kansas. 

"  Missouri  has  fifty  thousand  slaves  in  that  portion  of  her 
:rritory  which  borders  upon  the  frontiers  of  Kansas.  By 
;timating  the  average  value  of  each  of  those  slaves  at  $600 
i  low  rate),  we  have  a  total  of  $30,000,000.  Now,  should 
"ansas  become  a  Free  State  it  would  be  ruinous  to  the  slave- 
Dlding  interests  of  Missouri.  Her  negroes  have  in  several 
stances,  already  been  tampered  with  and  run  off  by  Abolition- 
ts ;  and  such  aots,  with  the  stern  retaliation  they  are  calcu- 
ted  to  call  forth,  must  sooner  or  later  result  in  a  deadly  feud 
3tween  the  Free  State  and  Pro-Slavery  factions,  which,  if 
Kansas  becomes  a  non-slaveholding  State,  would  finally  be 
inded  down  from  father  to  son,  and  thus  engender  feelings  of 
tter  and  uncompromising  hate  on  both  sides. 

"  These  facts  are  well  known  to  every  planter  in  Missouri.  Nor 

this  all.  The  mere  pecuniary  consideration  was  the  least 
^citing  motive  to  move  in  this  matter — their  feelings  had  been 
orked  upon  ;  they  had  listened  to  the  stories  of  men,  women 
id  children,  who  had  fled  from  homes  in  Kansas,  made  desolate 
7  the  threatened  and  actual  violence  of  the  Free  State  party. 


166 


GOVERNOR  SHANNON'S  POLICY. 


Even  granting  that  these  stories  were  exaggerated  by  the  fane 
or  indignation  of  their  narrators,  there  was  still  enough  of  trut 
in  their  representations  to  excite  a  smouldering  fire  of  wrath 
which  only  required  some  new  act  of  outrage  to  fan  it  into  a 
unextinguishable  flame  ;  and  this  came  at  length  in  the  report 
from  the  town  of  Lawrence.  The  men  of  Missouri  heard  tha 
the  Territorial  laws  were  set  at  defiance  ;  that  the  sheriff  o: 
the  county — a  Virginian,  well  known  and  highly  esteemed,  and 
moreover,  a  strong  Pro-Slavery  man — was  actually  threaten 
with  death  by  an  armed  Abolition  mob  ;  they  heard,  too  (fo 
when  did  rumor  ever  lose  strength  as  it  flies  ?).  that  these  oiu 
laws  were  fortifying  themselves,  drilling  day  by  day,  were  send 
ing  to  distant  States  for  men,  were  amply  supplied  witli  tht 
most  deadly  weapons  which  modern  skill  has  devised,  and  ever 
provided  with  artillery.  They  knew,  too,  that  this  was  no  dis 
turbance  born  of  a  transient  excitement,  and  nurtured  by  tin 
passions  of  an  hour.  On  the  contrary,  it  was  understood  to  b( 
a  cold-blooded,  long-foreseen,  and  carefully  prepared-for  thin? 
And  what  was  the  most  natural  result  ?  The  gathering  in  the 
camp  at  Wakarusa  may  best  answer  the  question.  Missouri 
sent,  not  only  her  young  men,  but  her  grey-headed  citizew 
were  there  ;  the  man  of  seventy  winters  stood  shoulder  to  shoul- 
der with  the  youth  of  sixteen.  There  were  volunteers  in  thai 
camp  who  brought  with  them  not  only  their  sons,  but  tbeii 
grandsons,  to  join,  if  need  be,  in  the  expected  fray.  Every  hour 
added  to  the  excitement,  and  brought  new  fuel  to  the  flame. 
What  wonder,  then,  that  my  position  was  an  embarrassing  one  ! 
Those  men  came  to  the  Wakarusa  camp  to  fight  ;  they  did  nor 
ask  peace  :  it  was  war — war  to  the  knife.  They  would  come : 
it  was  impossible  to  prevent  them.  What,  then,  was  my  policy? 
Certainly  this  :  to  mitigate  an  evil  which  it  was  impossible  to 
suppress,  by  bringing  under  military  control  these  irregular  and 
excited  forces.    This  was  only  to  be  accomplished  by  permitting 


A  VERY  IRISH  GENTLEMAN. 


'  16? 


he  continuance  of  the  course  which  had  already  been  adopted, 
'ithout  my  knowledge,  by  Generals  Richardson  and  Strickler — 
□at  is,  to  have  the  volunteers  incorporated  as  they  came  in 
ato  the  already  organized  command.  A  portion  of  these  men, 
ho  were  mostly  from  Jackson  County,  Mo.,  reported  them- 
ilves  to  Sheriff  Jones — by  giving  in  a  list  of  their  names — as 
illing  to  serve  in  his  posse,  and  he,  after  taking  legal  advice 
pon  the  question,  decided  to  receive  them.  They  were  accor- 
ingly  so  enrolled.  It  was  decided  that  he  had  a  right  to  employ 
lem,  from  the  fact  that  as  they  were  present  in  the  county,  the 
leriff  had  a  right  to  call  upon  them  to  aid  in  the  preserva- 
on  of  law  and  order  within  said  county,  even  though  they 
ight  be  citizens  of  another  State,  in  which  case,  if  they  chose 
»  act,  their  services  would  be  legal." 

ANOTHER  DIGRESSION. 

Although  this  may  seem  a  most  unwarrantable  digression 
om  what  should  properly  be  the  "  Governor's  talk "  and 
)t  ours,  we  will  take  the  liberty  of  mentioning  a  fact  or  two 
hich  have  come  to  our  knowledge  from  "undoubted  authority/7 

relation  to  the  very  fierce  party  zeal  that  was  exhibited  by 
,e  Pro-Slavery  "  Border  Ruffians  "  who  joined  the  forces  in  the 
rakarusa  camp.  The  reader  will  find  that  they  endorse  Gov- 
nor  Shannon's  statement  as  regards  an  extraordinary  excite- 
ent  to  the  fullest  extent. 

Among  those  who  answered  to  the  war-signal  of  Strickler,  or 
may  be  to  the  cry  of  "  Come  up  and  help  us,"  which  perse- 
ited  Pro-Slavery — sent  forth  from  Hickory  Point  settlement — 
as  a  very  old  man,  a  resident  of  one  of  the  frontier  counties 
Missouri — who,  so  far  as  temperament  went,  was  as  Irish  a 
mtleman  in  his  "  suddenness  in  quarrel "  as  ever  came  from 
iat  sweet  spot  for  broken  necks  and  duelling — County  Galway. 
i  fact  there  was  no  cooling  him.    Time  had  tried  it  but  given 


168 


THE  FIRE  EATERS. 


up  the  job  in  despair,  for  though  the  snows  of  seventy  odd  win 
ters  had  whitened  upon  his  head,  the  warm  blood  of  five-and 
twenty  yet  lingered  around  his  heart.  He  was  Pro-Slavery- 
withal — to  the  back  bone.  With  him  to  hate  the  Abolitionist 
was  to  "do  God  service."  So  the  old  man  was  not  only  amonj 
the  first  to  take  the  field  himself,  but  literally  carried  out  tfat 
assertion  of  the  Governor  by  bringing  with  him  not  only  hi 
son  but  his  grandson  to  join,  if  need  be,  in  the  expected  fray.  Am 
it  is  related  of  this  veteran,  that  while  enduring  the  hardships 
which,  owing  to  the  severity  of  the  season,  were  peculiar!; 
severe,  of  a  soldier's  life  in  the  Wakarusa  camp,  he  one  da; 
exhibited  his  musket,  an  antiquated  flint-lock  of  the  condemns 
old  fogy  pattern—  which  he  paraded  with  no  little  pride,  at  tht 
same  time  giving  vent  to  these  very  decided  words  : — 

"  Gentelmen,"  said  this  warrior  of  seventy — "  Gentelmen 
this  hyar  old  firelock  war  carried  by  my  father  through  tha 
dark  days  of  thar  Revolution — the  days  that  tried  men's  soul; 
— as  I  heerd  a  chap  say  when  he  war  a  makin'  a  stump  speed 
down  in  Arkansaw  ;  but  I'll  be  (here  the  old  man  ripped  out  i 
very  English  oath,  and  brought  down  the  butt  of  the  piee 
with  a  crash  to  the  ground) ;  yes,  I'll  be  derned,  gentelmen,  tj 
she  war  ever  carried  in  a  better  cause  than  this? 

Another  "  returned  volunteer "  yarn  goes  on  to  state  tha 
some  of  these  "  fire-eating "  Missouri  Pro-Slavery  boys  wer 
even  heard  to  affirm,  in  their  very  \in-friend-lj  way,  that  the 
" didnH  hear  whether  thar  whisky  gin  out  or  not" — that  the; 
"  had  come  thar  for  a  fight,  and  jest  allowed  to  stop  whar  the; 
were,  ef  it  should  be  fur  a  month  of  Sundays,  but  what  tkey'i 
git  one." 

Touching  which,  if  you  don't  know  far-western  men,  m; 
amiable  reader,  we  can  assure  you  tha.t  there  is  a  terrible  sign 
ficance  in  their  being  willing  to  stay  where  they  were,  "  whethe 
thar  whisky  gin  out  or  not  ;"  for  when  a  frontiersman  say 


A  BAD  POSITION   AT   THE  BEST. 


169 


'.hat,  he  means  something,  for  under  such  circumstances,  the  main 
spring  of  action,  whatever  it  may  be,  must  u  have  the  strength  of 
'orty  jackasses,"  as,  without  "  the  corn,"  a  Borderer — to  use  his 
)wn  expression — is  "  no  whar  f  indeed  it  has  even  been  hinted  by 
^ery  old  settlers  that  the  "  Old  Scratch  "  himself  couldn't  keep  a 
Missourian  quiet,  even  for  four-and-twenty  hours,  in  that  place 
vhich  shall  be  nameless  to  Methodistical  ears — unless  he  had  a 
jourd  full  of  highly  rectified  along  with  him,  and  mayhap  a  fiddle 
>eside. 

What  wonder  then,  that  our  new-made  Governor  should  havf 
ound  himself  very  much  in  the  position  of  the  unlucky  Scotch 
aan  in  the  story,  who  stood  on  a  cliff,  "  with  the  Deil  on  on 
ide  and  the  deep  sea  upon  the  other."  What  a  dilemma  indeed  wa. 
.is,  for  a  newly-fledged  Territorial  Executive.  With  him  it  was 
adeed  both  "  save  me  from  my  friends,"  and  "  preserve  me  from 
ry  enemies."  Let  us  explain  our  parallel  between  Governor  Shau- 
ou's  position,  and  that  of  the  bedevilled  Sawney,  just  alluded  to. 
"he  gubernatorial  throne  of  Kansas  may  well  represent  the  cliff, 
rith  this  exception,  perhaps,  that  it  is  hardly  lofty  enough  to 
reak  even  a  democratic  politician's  neck  were  he  to  tumble  from 

"  Hia  high  estate," 

'hen  for  the  De'il  :  what  apter  illustration  could  you  find  than 
hose  Satanic  Border  Ruffians,  whom  all  Lawrence  count  as 
hildren  of  wrath,  and  servants  of  the  arch-fiend  himself.  And 
>r  a  similitude  to  the  deep  sea,  we  point  most  triumphantly  to 
le  Free  State  party,  who  are,  or  say  they  are — which  in  Ameri- 
in  politics  comes,  now-a-days,  to  very  nearly  the  same  thing, 
s  mighty  as  the  sea,  and  for  all  we  know  to  the  contrary,  as 
i?p.  Were  a  Pro-Slavery  man  to  carry  out  the  idea,  he  would 
robably  say,  that  as  regards  the  loaves  and  fishes  of  office,  they 
ould  carry  out  our  Oceanic  thought  to  a  charm,  by  swallowing 
iem  up,  as  did  the  rock  which  closed  on  Korah,  Dathan  and 

8 


nO  THE   SHIP  OF  STATE. 

Abiram.  But  stay,  there's  something  else.  We  must  suppos< 
the  "Deil,"  in  this  instance,  to  be  upsetting  the  gubernatoria 
throne  with  a  pitchfork,  which,  on  a  close  inspection,  will  b< 
found  to  be  labelled,  Black  Republicanism  and  the  opinions  of 
the  press.  What  wonder,  then,  we  repeat,  that  our  friend  Shan 
non  should  find  himself  in  a  situation,  which  can  only  be  expressec 
by  the  somewhat  vulgar  comparison  of  "  a  divil  of  a  mess.'" 

How  easy  it  is  for  us,  good  quiet  people  that  we  are,  to  cha 
over  "  the  troubles  in  Kansas,"  in  our  well-furnished  drawing 
rooms  after  dinner,  where  we  say,  Shannon  should  have  dom 
that,  and  the  Governor  ought  not  to  have  done  this  ;  apropos  t< 
which,  my  very  self-sufficient  friend,  did  you  never  observe,  tha 
when  the  journals  of  the  day  are  filled  with  the  particulars  o! 
some  terrible  disaster  upon  the  storm-swept  ocean,  there  ar 
hundreds  of  warmly-housed  citizens 

"  Whose  souls  would  sicken  on  the  hearing  wave," 

who  sit  dowu  in  their  snug  chambers,  and  speak,  as  they  toas 
their  slippered  toes  at  an  anthracite  heaped  grate,  of  the  set 
faring  man — who  hoped,  and  struggled,  and  battled  manfully  t 
the  last,  until  he  had  vainly  exhausted  every  resource  whic 
experience  or  skill  could  devise,  to  save  the  gallant  bark  con 
mitted  to  his  care — as  an  ignoramus,  a  coward,  and  an  ass- 
stupid  fellow  who  ought  never  to  have  had  a  command,  couple( 
perchance,  with  what  they  would  have  done,  or  what  they  tkk 
they  would  have  done  under  like  circumstances.  And  now  wL 
shall  say  that  these  remarks  are  not  quite  as  applicable  to  tb 
unwarrantable  criticisms  which  are  so  frequently  passed  upo 
those  whose  curse  it  is  to  sail  that  most  unmanageable  of  a 
storm-driven  craft,  u  the  Ship  of  State  ?"  Yet  does  not  ever 
day  prove,  how  nicely — upon  paper,  our  good  people  at  the  Nortl 
many  of  whom  never  saw  a  log-cabin,  and  do  but  dream  c 
"outside  barbarians,"  could  "  take  in  the  rags"  for  a  Kansf 


WARLIKE  PREPARATIONS. 


-overnor,  where  the  wind  "  blows  great  guns  "  from  the  South, 
r  put  his  bark  under  "  close  reefed  taup-sails,"  when  a  Free  State 
•inpest  is  at  hand  ?  But  we,  for  one,  should  be  mighty  pleased, 
[  we  have  but  a  "  Union  interest  "  in  this  "  Ship  of  State,"  to 
e  some  of  these  bold  pretenders  try  a  "  trick  at  the  wheel," 
hich,  and  we  mistake  not,  would  most  probably  "  eventuate  "  in 
leir  being  rolled  into  the  lee  scuppers  with  her  first  lurch  to 
>rt. 

But  let  us  get  back,  with  an  apology  for  interrupting  him, 
the  Governor's  history  of  the  "  Wakarusa  War." 
"  The  Pro-Slavery  forces  thus  collected,  including  the  militia, 
aounted  on  the  1st  or  2nd  of  December,  1855  (as  it  was  then 
ated  to  me  at  the  Shawnee  Mission),  to  about  1,500  men,  and 
was  also  reported  that  about  an  equal  number  of  Free  State 
?n  had  concentrated  at  Lawrence.  I  became  satisfied  that  in  all 
obability  a  deadly  collision  must  take  place,  and  that  the  only 
ly  to  avoid  that  collision  was  to  request  the  aid  of  the  general 
ivernment.    I  was,  moreover,  in  the  receipt  of  a  communica- 
n  from  Brigadier-General  Eastin,  of  the  Northern  Brigade, 
M.,  putting  me  in  possession  of  information  from  Lawrence, 
i  d  recommending  the  employment  of  the  United  States  forces 
i  Fort  Leavenworth." 

The  following  is  the  communication  referred  to  from  General 
.istin. 

KGADIER  GENERAL  EASTIN's  LETTER  TO  GOVERNOR  SHANNON  GIVING  INFOR- 
MATION OP  WARLIKE  PREPARATIONS  IN  THE  TOWN  OP  LAWRENCE,  K.  T.,  AND 
7RGING  UPON  THE  GOVERNOR  THE  NECESSITY  OP  CALLING  OUT  THE  UNITED 
STATES  TROOPS. 

Leavenworth,  K.  T.,  Nov.  SOW,  1856. 

(  vernor  Shannon  : 

Information  has  been  received  here  direct  from  Lawrence,  which  Iconsi- 
l  reliable,  that  the  outlaws  of  Douglas  County  are  well  fortified  at  Lawrence 
*  h  cannon  and  Sharpe's  rifles,  and  number  at  least  one  thousand  men.  It 
»i,  therefore,  be  difficult- to  dispossess  them. 


172 


SHAVN'ON  TELEGRAPHS  THE  PRESIDENT 


The  militia  in  this  portion  of  the  State  are  entirely  unorganized,  and 
mostly  without  arms. 

I  suggest  the  propriety  of  calling  upon  the  military  at  Fort  Leaver 
worth.  If  you  have  the  power  to  call  out  the  Government  troops,  I  think 
it  would  be  best  to  do  so  at  once.  It  might  overawe  these  outlawo  ace 
prevent  bloodshed. 

(Signed)  L.  J.  Eastin, 

Brig.  General,  Northern  Brigade,  K.  M, 

"  To  obtain  the  cooperation  of  the  general  government,  I  tele- 
graphed on  the  1st  of  December  from  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  tc 
President  Pierce,  that  I  requested  authority  to  call  upon  Colo 
nel  Sumner,  commanding  at  Fort  Leavenworth,  for  such  mili 
tary  aid  as  should  enable  me  to  protect  the  sheriff  of  Dougla: 
County  in  executing  the  laws,  and  preserving  peace  and  goo( 
order  in  the  Territory." 

[Note. — As  this  dispatch,  with  the  President's  reply,  as  als< 
the  Proclamation  of  Governor  Shannon,  dated  on  the  29th  of 
November,  from  the  executive  office  at  Shawnee  Mission,  havi 
already  been  published,  until  they  have  become  as  threadbare  a 
Paddy  O'Flaherty's  Sunday  coat,  it  is  hardly  worth  while  t< 
recapitulate  them  here,  the  more  so,  as  there  is  "  sorrow  a  tast< 
of  divarsion  "  in  either  of  them.] 

"  I  also  dispatched  a  messenger  to  Col.  Sumner,  1st  Cavalry 
TJ.  S.  A.,  at  Fort  Leavenworth,  notifying  him  of  what  I  ha< 
done,  and  requesting,  him  to  hold  himself  and  command  in  read: 
ness,  in  case  the  orders  should  be  received  ;  to  which  he  promptl; 
replied  that  he  would  be  ready  to  move  with  his  men  at  a  mc 
ment's  warning,  as  soon  as  the  requisite  instructions  shoul 
come." 

Here  follows  a  copy  of  Col.  Sumner's  letter  to  Governo 
Shannon  in  reply  to  the  dispatch  just  referred  to.  Of  tb 
Governor's  letter,  which  was  dated  from  Shawnee  Mission  on  th 
same  day,  no  copy  was  retained,  but  its  contents  are  embodie 
in  "  the  statement."    Col.  Sumner's  letter  runs  thus  : 


COLONEL  SUMNER  MAKES  A  SUGGESTION. 


173 


Head  Quarters,  1st  Cavalry,  Fort  Leavenworth,  December  1st,  1855. 

Governor : 

I  have  just  received  your  letter  of  this  day.  I  do  not  feel 
lat  it  would  be  right  in  me  to  act  in  this  important  matter  until  wrdens 
-e  received  from  the  government.  I  shall  be  ready  to  move  inso^-atlv 
henever-  I  receive  them.  I  would  respectfully  suggest  that  you  ma*.e 
3ur  application  for  aid  to  the  government  extensively  known  at  once, 
id  I  would  countermand  any  orders  that  may  have  been  given  for  the 
cement  of  the  militia  until  you  receive  the  answer.    I  write  this  in 

With  much  respect,  your  obdt.  servt., 

(Signed)  E.  V.  Sumner,  ■ 

Col.  First  Cavalry. 

is  Excellency, 

Governor  Shannon. 

Note. — This  letter  was  received  by  Governor  Shannon  on  the 
i  of  December,  at  Shawnee  Mission.  The  Governor  immedi- 
tely  adopted  the  suggestions  contained  therein,  and  accordingly 
idressed  letters  to  General  Richardson  and  Sheriff  Jones, 
hich  are  annexed  as  follows,  together  with  Sheriff  Jones's  reply, 
id  a  communication  from  General  Richardson  to  the  Governor, 
;khjg  permission  to  demand  a  surrender  of  the  arnts  then  in 
Dssession  of  the  Free  State  party  in  Lawrence. 

5joy  of  instructions  from  Governor  Shannon  to  General  Richardson  com," 
manding  the  Territorial  militia  to  carry  out  the  suggestions  contained  in 
Colonel  Sumner's  letter  of  the  1st : 

GOVERNOR  SHANNON  TO   GENERAL  RICHARDSON. 

Executive  Office,  Shawnee  Mission,  K.  T.,  December  2d,  1855. 

My  Dear  Sir  : 

I  have  written  a  letter  to  Sheriff  Jones,  informing  him  of 
lat  I  have  done,  and  putting  him  in  possession  of  the  fact  that  I  am  in 
nstont  expectation  of  receiving  authority  from  Washington  to  call  out 
e  regu'ar  troops  at  Port  Leavenworth.    I  have  notified  Colonel  Sumner 
this,  and  am  in  receipt  of  his  reply,  assuring  me  that  he  will  be  ready  a# 


114 


SHANNON  ADOPTS  THE  SUGGESTION. 


any  moment  to  move  with  the  whole  force  at  his  command,  so  soon  as  the 
orders  are  received  from  the  General  Government.  These  orders  are  con- 
fidently expected  in  a  day  or  two.  I  am  desirous  to  employ  the  Unitcl 
States*  forces,  as  it  would  have  a  most  salutary  effect  upon  these  lawless 
men  hereafter ;  for  when  they  find  that  the  regular  troops  can  be  used  to 
preserve  the  peace  and  execute  the  law  in  this  Territory,  they  will  not  be 
so  ready  to  place  themselves  in  a  hostile  attitude.  In  the  meanwhile  you 
will  remain  with  Sheriff  Jones,  and  retain  a  sufficient  force  with  you  to 
protect  that  officer,  and  secure  the  safety  of  his  prisoner ;  the  remainder 
of  your  men  will  be  kept  at  a  distance,  but  be  held  in  readiness  to  give 
their  services  whenever  they  may  be  required  to  act.  You  will  be  careful 
in  preserving  order,  and  in  restraining  your  people  from  any  illegal  act. 
Let  everything  that  is  done,  be  for  the  preservation  of  law  and  order.  Your 
duties  are  to  protect  the  Sheriff,  and  enable  him  to  serve  the  legal  process 
in  his  hands;  when  these  objects  are  accomplished,  your  command  will 
retire.  _ „ 

I  shall  accompany  Colonel  Sumner  with  the  United  States  forces,  when 
they  move. 

Yours,  with  great  respect, 

Wilson  Shannon. 

Major  General  Richardson, 
Camp  at  Lecompton. 

[Note. — This  letter  was  forwarded  by  express,  together  with  the  com- 
munication to  Sheriff  Jones.] 

Copy  of  instructions  from  Governor  Shannon  to  the  Sheriff  of  Doitgla* 
County — Samuel  J.  Jones — to  carry  out  the  suggestions  contained  in  Col- 
onel Sumner's  letter  of  the  1st : 

governor  shannon  to  sheriff  JONES. 

Execotive  Office,  Shawnee  Mission,  K  T.,  December  2d,  1855. 

Sir: 

I  am  in  receipt  of  Colonel  Sumner's  reply  to  my  dispatch,  in  which  he 
informs  me  that  he  will  be  ready  at  a  moment's  warning  to  move  with  his 
whole  force,  if  desired,  on  the  arrival  of  his  orders  from  Washington.  My 
telegraphic  dispatch  to  the  President  must  have  reached  its  destination  by 
this  time,  and  an  answer  should  soon  come  to  hand.  I  have  no  doubt  but 
that  the  authority  which  I  have  requested — to  call  upon  the  United  States 


INSTRUCTIONS  TO   SHERIFF  JONES. 


175 


ro0pS — vnll  be  granted.  Under  these  circumstances,  you  will  wait  until  I 
:an  obtain  the  desired  orders  before  attempting  to  execute  your  writs. 
This  will  save  any  effusion  of  blood,  and  may  have  a  moral  influence  here- 
ifter,  which  would 'prevent  any  farther  resistance  to  the  law;  for  when 

hcse  lawless  men  find  that  the  forces  of  the  United  States  can  be  used  to 
preserve  order,  they  will  not  be  so  ready  to  adopt  an  opposing  course, 
ind  if  necessary,  steps  will  be  taken  to  station  an  adequate  force  in  the 
listurbed  district  to  protect  the  people  against  mob  violence,  and  to  secure 
;he  fulfillment  of  the  laws. 

You  will  retain  a  sufficient  force  to  protect  yourself  and  guard  youi 
prisoner ;  anything  beyond  this  had  better  remain  at  a  distance,  until  it 
)an  be  ascertained  whether  their  aid  will  or  will  not  be  needed.  The 
snown  deficiency  in  arms,  and  all  the  accoutrements  of  war  which  must 
lecessarily  characterize  the  law-abiding  citizens,  who  have  rushed  to  your 
issistance  in  the  maintenance  of  order,  will  invite  resistance  from  your 
>pponents,  who  are  well  supplied  with  arms ;  it  would  be  wrong,  therefore, 
;o  place  your  men  in  a  position  where  their  lives  would  be  endangered, 
;vhen  we  shall  in  all  probability  have  an  ample  force  from  Fort  Leaven- 
worth in  a  few  days. 

Show  this  letter  to  Major-General  Richardson,  and  also  to  General 
Eastin,  who,  as  I  am  advised,  have  gone  to  your  aid.  Their  destination 
s  Lecompton,  but  they  will  join  you  wherever  you  are.  Their  forces  are 
Dut  small,  and  may  be  required  for  your  protection  until  advices  are 
received  from  Washington. 

I  send  you,  with  this,  a  communication  to  General  Richardson,  which 
rou  will  please  deliver  to  him  at  as  early  a  day  as  practicable.  As  I  refer 
lim  to  this  my  letter  to  you,  for  my  views,  you  will  permit  him  to  read  it 
Let  me  know  what  number  of  warrants  you  have,  and  the  names  of  the 
defendants.    I  shall  probably  accompany  Col.  Sumner's  command, 

Yours,  with  great  respect, 

Wilson  Shannon. 

Sheriff  Jones,  Lecompton. 

sheriff  jones's  reply. 

Camp,  at  Wakarusa,  Dee.  4tk,  1855. 
His  Excellency,  Governor  Wilson  Shannon  : 
SiR: 

In  reply  to  your  communication  of  yesterday  I  have  to  inform 
y*u  that  the  volunteer  forces,  now  at  this  place  and  at  Lecompton,  are 


17G 


RICHARDSON  AND  JONES. 


getting  weary  of  inaction.  They  will  net  I  presume,  remain  but  a  very 
short  time  longer,  unless  a  demand  for  the  prisoner  is  made.  I  think  I 
shall  have  a  sufficient  force  to  protect  me  by  to-morrow  morning.  The 
force  at  Lawrence  is  not  half  so  strong  as  reported ;  I  have  this  from  a 
reliable  souree.  If  I  am  to  wait  for  tie  Government  troops,  more  ihau 
two-thirds  of  the  men  now  here  will  go  away,  very  much  dissatisfied.  They 
are  leaving  hourly  as  it  is.  I  do  not,  by  any  means,  wish  to  violate  youi 
orders,  but  I  really  believe  that  if  I  have  a  sufficient  force,  it  would  oe 
better  to  make  the  demand. 

It  is  reported  that  the  people  of  Lawrence  have  run  off  those  offenders 
from  that  town,  and,  indeed,  it  is  said  that  they  are  now  all  out  ot  tne 
way.  I  have  writs  for  sixteen  persons,  who  were  with  the  party  that  res- 
cued my  prisoner.  S.  N.  Wood,  P.  R.  Brooks,  and  Saml.  Tappan  are  of 
Lawrence,  the  balance  from  the  country  round.  Warrants  will  be  placed 
in  my  hands  to-day  for  the  arrest  of  G.  W.  Brown,  and  probably  others  je 
Lecompton.  They  say  that  they  are  willing  to  obey  the  laws,  but  no  con- 
fidence can  be  placed  in  any  statements  they  may  make. 

No  evidence  sufficient  to  cause  a  warrant  to  issue  has  as  yet  been 
brought  against  those  lawless  men  who  fired  the  houses. 

I  would  give  you  the  names  of  the  defendants,  but  the  writs  are  in  my 
office  at  Lecompton.  Most  respectfully  yours, 

Saml.  J.  Jones, 
Sheriff  of  Douglas  Co 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  a  letter  from  Major-General 
Richardson  to  Governor  Shannon,  in  which  the  General  requests 
permission  to  demand  the  surrender  of  the  Free  State  people's 
arms. 

GENERAL  RICHARDSON  TO  GOVERNOR  SHANNON. 

Lecompton,  K.  T.,  Dec.  3d,  1855, 12  o'clock,  P.  M. 

His  Excellency,  Governor  Wilson  Shannon: 
Dear  Sir: 

I  believe  it  to  be  essential  to  the  peace  and  tranquillity  of 
the  Territory  that  the  outlaws  at  Lawrence  and  elsewhere  should  be 
required  to  surrender  their  Sharpe's  rifles.  There  can  be  no  security  for 
the  future  safety  of  the  lives  and  property  of  law-abiding  citizens  un!es3 


THE  PRESIDENT  PROMISES  AID. 


117 


iese  unprincipled  men  are  (at  least)  deprived  of  the  arms,  which,  as  we 
1  know,  have  been  furnished  them  for  the  purpose  of  resisting  the  law — ■ 
fact,  peaceable  citizens  will  be  obliged  to  leave  the  Territory,  unless 
ose  who  are  now  threatening  them  are  compelled  to  surrender  their 
lea,  and  artillery,  if  they  have  any. 

I  do  not,  however,  feel  authorized  from  the  instructions  which  you  have 
ven  me,  to  make  this  demand.  Should  you  concur  with  me  in  my 
union,  please  let  me  know  by  express  at  once. 

A  fresh  rider  had  better  be  sent  up  in  lieu  of  the  bearer  of  this,  as  he 

II  be  fatigued.  I  am  diligently  using  every  possible  precaution  to  pre- 
Et  the  effusion  of  blood  and  preserve  the  peace  of  the  Territory.  As 
o  Sharpe's  rifles  may  be  regarded  as  private  property  by  some,  I  can 
ee  a  receipt  for  them,  stating  that  they  will  be  returned  to  their  owners 
the  discretion  of  the  Governor. 

Very  respectfully  your  obdt.  servt., 

William  P.  Richardson, 
Major-General,  commanding  Kansas  Territorial  Militia. 

"  On  the  4th  of  December,  the  telegraph  lines  being  down 
tween  Lexington  and  Jefferson  City,  Missouri  (my  dispatch 
ing  therefore  sent  by  special  messenger  during  the  interval), 
received  a  reply,  dated  December  3d,  from  the  President, 
;iting  that  the  Executive  would  use  all  the  power  at  his 
immand  to  preserve  order  in  the  Territory,  and  to  enforce  the 
(ecution  of  the  laws,  and  as  soon  as  the  proper  orders  could 
I  made  out  at  the  War  Department,  they  would  be  transmit- 
fl.    I  immediately  forwarded  a  copy  of  the  President's  tele- 
japhic  dispatch  to  Col.  Sumner,  requesting  him  to  march  (on 
'3  strength  of  that  dispatch),  with  his  men.  to  the  Delaware 
ossing  of  the  Kansas — twelve  miles  above  its  mouth,  at  which 
1st  1  would  meet  and -accompany  his  command  to  the  scene 
I  difficulty. 

"  Col.  Sumner  replied  that  he  would  do  so,  as  it  was  a  case  of 
ttreme  emergency.  (I  had  written  him  that  time  was  every- 
t  ng,  as  things  were  rapidly  coming  to  a  crisis.)" 

Here  follows  a  copy  of  Col.  Sumner's  reply  : 

8* 


178 


A  CRISIS  IS  AT  HAND. 


COL.  SUMNER  TO  GOVERNOR  SHANNON. 
Head  Quarters  Fjrst  Cavalry,  Dec.  5th,  1855, 1  o'clock,  A.  M. 

Governor*: 

I  have  just  received  your  letter  of  yesterday,  with  the  tele- 
graphic despatch  from  the  President.  I  will  inarch  with  my  regiment  in  a 
few  hours,  and  will  meet  you  at  the  Delaware  crossing  of  the  Kansas  thii 
evening.  With  high  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

(Signed)  E.  V.  Sumner, 

Col.  First  Cavalry. 

His  Excellency, 

"Wilson  Shannon. 

[XoTE.-^This  letter  was  received  by  the  Governor,  at  Shawnee  Mission, 
early  on  the  morning  of  the  6th.] 

"About  this  time  a  committee  waited  upon  me  from  Law- 
rence, of  Free  State  men — claiming  to  represent  the  citizens 
of  that  town  (Messrs.  Lowry  and  Babcock).  They  state 
that  the  people  of  Lawrence  were  surrounded  by  a  body  of 
armed  men,  who  were  threatening  to  demolish  their  town,  am 
requested  me  to  exercise  my  authority  to  preserve  peace  anc 
save  their  city.  They  produced  a  letter  signed  by  the  leading 
men  of  Lawrence." 

The  following,  although  the  date  of  its  receipt  is  not  given 
must  have  reached  Governor  Shannon  about  this  time  : 

Camp  on  Wakarusa,  Dec.  4. 1856. 

Sir: 

Inclosed  is  a  dispatch  from  Gen.  Richardson.  I  have  the  i'.onoi 
to  inform  you  that  I  was  in  Lawrence  yesterday,  and  found  two  hundrec 
and  fifty  men  under  arms,  and  about  six  hundred  men  in  the  town  willing 
to  bear  arms  against  the  officers.  In  camp  Wakarusa  there  are  now  about 
two  hundred  and  fifty  men  under  my  command. 

Yours  respectfully, 

H.  J.  Strickler, 

Com.  S.  Divuion. 

Gov.  Shannon. 


THE  CRISIS   GETS  NEARER. 


179 


'*  Finding  that  affairs  in  Lawrence  and  its  vicinity  were  fast 
orning  to  a  crisis,  I  determined  to  repair  there  imnie- 
liately,  in  person. 

"  I  accordingly  addressed  a  communication  to  Colonel  Sumner, 
pologizing  to  him  for  sot  meeting  him  at  the  Delaware  cross- 
ag,  as  I  had  promised,  and  adding  that  as  I  was  going  to  push 
■n,  ahead,  I  hoped  he  would  follow  with  his  command,  as  rapidly 
s  possible.  It  was  my  desire  to  have  had  the  Colonel's  men 
tationed  in  Lawrence,  for  I  knew,  if  it  could  be  effected,  it 
:ould  prevent  an  attack.  On  the  night  previous  to  my  leaving 
3r  Lawrence,  I  sent  a  special  messenger,  with  three  separate 
ispatches,  to  Generals  Richardson  and  Strickler,  and  to 
iheriff  Jones,  to  prevent  an  attack  or  disorder  of  any  kind  n 


180 


SHANNON   IS  OFF  TO   THE  WAR. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

4 

THE  GOVERNOR  CONTINUES  HIS  NARRATIVE. 

"  At  half  past  three  o'clock,  p.  m.,  on  the  5th  of  December,  I 
left  Shawnee  Mission,  went  to  Westport,  Mo.  (distant  some 
two  and  a  half  miles  from  the  Mission),  and  requested  Col. 
Boone — a  grandson  of  Col.  Boone  of  frontier  memory,  and  the 
Postmaster  at  Westport — to  accompany  me  to  Lawrence,  and, 
as  his  acquaintance  with  the  leading  Pro-Slavery  men  who  were 
then  in  the  camp  near  Lawrence  was  extensive,  give  me  the 
benefit  of  his  influence  in  keeping  down  an  excitement  and  pre- 
venting any  rash  act  upon  the  part  of  the  troops  then  threat- 
ening that  town.  This  he  instantly  agreed  to  do,  and  I  owe 
much  to  his  valuable  assistance  in  restraining  the  volunteers. 
We  journeyed  in  company  to  the  scene  of  action.  Shortly 
after  leaving  Westport  we  met  a  dispatch  from  Colonel  Sum- 
ner, First  Cavalry,  stating  that  upon  reflection  he  had  con- 
cluded not  to  march  with  his  command  until  his  orders  from  the 
War  Department  had  been  received. 

Here  follows  a  copy  of  Col.  Sumner's  dispatch,  written  upon 
"  maturer  reflection  :" 

COLONEL  SUMNER  TO  GOVERNOR  SHANNON. 

Head  Quarters  First  Cavalry,  Fort  Leavenswobtb, 
Dec.  5th,  1855.  ' 

Governor : 

On  more  mature  reflection  I  think  it  will  not  be  proper  for  me 
to  move  before  I  receive  the  orders  of  the  Government.    I  shall  be  all 


SHANNON  IN  THE  CAMP. 


181 


ready  whenever  I  get  them.    This  decision  will  not  delay  our  reaching 
the  scene  of  the  difficulties,  for  I  can  move  from  this  place  to  Lawrence 
as  quickly  (or  nearly  so)  as  I  could  from  the  Delaware  crossing,  and  we 
could  not,  of  course,  go  beyond  that  place  without  definite  orders. 
With  high  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

E.  V.  Sumner, 

Coldnel  First  Cavalry. 

His  Excellency, 

Wilson  Shannon. 

"  We  then  proceeded  as  rapidly  as  possible  to  the  Wakarusa 
camp  (within  six  miles  of  Lawrence),  which  was  occupied  by 
that  portion  of  the  Pro-Slavery  forces  under  the  command  of 
General  Strickler,  and  reached  it  about  three  o'clock  a.  m.  on 
the  6th 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  6th,  I  sent  a  request  to  Major 
General.  Richardson  to  meet  me  at  the  Wakarusa  camp,  and 
bring  with  him  the  leading  men  of  the  Lecompton  camp.  One 
of  the  objects  in  dividing  the  Bi-o-Slavery  forces  into  the  two 
camps  of  Lecompton  and  Wakarusa,  distant  from  each  other  by 
eighteen  miles,  was  to  prevent  those  men  in  Lawrence  against 
whom  the  sheriff  had  writs,  from  escaping,  another  was  to  take 
advantage  of  the  very  favorable  camping  ground  afforded  by 
the  Wakarusa  bottom,  as  its  facilities  for  obtaining  fuel,  water, 
and  sheltering  timber,  rendered  it  a  desirable  location  for  the 
troops. 

About  3  p.  m.,  General  Richardson,  with  a  number  of  the 
most  prominent  men  from  the  Lecompton  camp,  arrived  at  my 
quarters  (which  I  had  established  at  an  Indian  house  on  the 
east  side  of  the  Wakarusa,  and  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from 
the  Wakarusa  camp).  I  had  been  engaged  during  the  day 
op  to  the  very  moment  of  Gen.  Richardson's  arrival,  in  con- 
ference with  the  leading  men  of  the  Wakarusa  camp,  with  the 
view  of  ascertaining  their  feelings  and  intentions,  and  if  possible 
prevailing  upon  them  to  co-operate  with  me  in  carrying  out  my 


182 


SHANNON  HAS   TWO  OBJECTS. 


views.  For  myself,  I  had  two  leading  objects,  which  I  had 
determined  to  use  every  exertion  to  accomplish  : — One,  to  pre- 
vent the  effusion  of  blood  ;  the  other,  to  vindicate  the  supremacy 
of  the  laws.  I  found  in  the  Wakarusa  camp  a  strong  disposition 
which  appeared  to  be  almost  universal,  to  attack  Lawrence. 

For  the  purpose  of  furthering  the  objects  I  had  in  view,  I 
invited  between  thirty  and  forty  of  their  leading  men  from  the 
two  camps  to  meet  me  on  the  night  of  the  6th,  at  my  quarters, 
with  the  intention  of  explaining  to  them  my  desires  and  purposes 
and  inviting  a  similar  confidence  on  their  part  in  return. 

They  convened  at  my  quarters,  accordingly,  at  eight  o'clock 
p.  m.,  when  I  addressed  them  at  length,  denning  the  position 
which  I  intended  to  "occupy  and  the  ends  which  I  hoped  to  gain, 
and  finally  begged  them  to  explain  freely,  their  wishes  and 
expectations  as  to  the  settlement  of  the  existing  difficulties.  I 
soon  discovered  that  there  was  but  one  person  present  who  fully 
approved  of  the  course  which  I  ^esired  to  pursue.  The  others 
wished  to  go  further  ;  some  would  hear  of  nothing  less  than  the 
destruction  of  Lawrence  and  its  fortifications,  the  demolition  of 
its  printing  presses,  and  the  unconditional  surrender  of  the  arms 
of  the  citizens  ;  others,  more  moderate,  expressed  a  willingness 
to  be  satisfied,  if  the  Free  State  party  would  give  up  their 
Sharpe's  rifles  and  revolvers.  Under  these  unfavorable  circum- 
stances the  conference  broke  up  at  midnight,  having  accom- 
plished nothing  beyond  the  interchange  of  opinions  on  either 
side.  Before  its  adjournment,  however,  I  informed  them  that  I 
would  enter  Lawrence  upon  the  ensuing  day  (the  Tth),  and  as- 
certain what  arrangements  the  Free  Sate  party  were  williug  to 
make,  and  what  terms  they  would  accede  to.  On  the  part  of 
the  Pro-Slavery  men  there  seemed  to  be  so  fixed  a  purpose  to 
assault  the  town  that  I  almost  despaired  of  preventing  it,  unless 
1  could  obtain  the  services  of  the  United  States  troops  at  Fort 
Leavenworth.    With  the  intention  of  communicating  my  wishes 


shannon's  army  will  not  be  restrained. 


183 


to  Col.  Sumner,  the  commandant  of  that  post,  I  made  arrange- 
ments with  Gen.  Strickler,  commanding  in  the  Wakarusa  camp, 
to  furnish  me  with  an  express  rider  at  daybreak,  to  start  imme- 
diately for  Fort  Leavenworth.  I  at  once  wrote  a  pressing 
letter  to  Col.  Sumner  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy  : 

GOVERNOR  SHANNON  TO  COLONEL  SUMNER. 

Wakarusa,  December,  GtJi,  1855. 

Col.  Sumner,  1st  Cavalry,  TJ.  S.  A. : 
Sir: 

I  send  you  this  special  dispatch  to  ask  you  to  come  to  Lawrence  as  soon 
as  you  possibly  can.  My  object  is  to  secure  the  citizens  of  that'  place,  as 
well  as  all  others,  from  a  warfare  which,  if  once  commenced,  there  is  no 
telling  where  it  will  end.  I  doubt  not  that  you  have  received  orders  from 
Washington,  but  if  you  have  not,  the  absolute  pressure  of  this  crisis  is 
such  as  to  justify  you  with  the  President,  and  the  world,  in  moving  with 
your  force  to  the  scene  of  difficulties. 

It  is  hard  to  restrain  the  men  here  (they  are  beyond  my  power,  or  at  least 
soon  will  be),  from  making  an  attack  upon  Lawrence,  which,  if  once  made, 
there  is  no  telling  where  it  may  terminate.  The  presence  of  a  portion  of 
the  United  States  troops  at  Lawrence  would  prevent  an  attack — save 
bloodshed — and  enable  us  to  get  matters  arranged  in  a  satisfactory  way, 
and  at  the  same  time  secure  the  execution  of  the  laws.  It  is  peace,  not 
war,  that  we  want,  and  you  have  the  power  to  secure  peace.  Time  is  pre- 
cious— fear  not  but  that  you  will  be  sustained. 

With  great  repect, 

Wilson  Shannon. 

N.  B. — Be  pleased  to  send  me  a  dispatch. 

col.  sumner's  reply. 
Head-quarters  First  Cavalry,  Fort  Leavenworth,  Dec.  7, 1 855. 

Governor : 

I  have  received  your  two  letters  of  the  5th  and  6th  inst.  I 
regret  extremely  to  disappoint  you,  but  the  more  I  reflect  on  it  the  more 
I  am  convinced  that  I  ought  not  to  interpose  my  command  between  the 
two  hostile  parties  in  this  territory  until  I  receive  orders  from  the  Govern- 
ment.   We  know  that  the  whole  matter  is  now  in  the  hands  of  the  Execu- 


184 


SHANNON    OUTWITS  HIS  MEN. 


tive,  and  it  is  an  affair  of  too  much  importance  for  any  one  to  anticipate 

the  action  of  the  Government.  I  am  momentarily  expecting  to  receive 
orders,  and  whenever  they  come  I'shall  move  instantly,  by  night  or  by  day. 
If  you  find  those  people  bent  on  attacking  the  town,  I  would  respectfully 
suggest  that  they  might  be  induced  to  pause  for  a  time  on  being  told  that 
the  orders  of  the  General  Government  were  expected  every  moment,  and 
that  there  was  no  doubt  but  that  these  orders,  framed  from  an  enlarged 
view  of  the  whole  difficulty,  would  give  general  satisfaction,  and  settle  the 
matter  honorably  for  both  parties. 

I  am,  Governor,  with  much  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

E.  V.  Sumner, 
Colonel  1st  Cavalry,  Commanding. 

His  Excellency  Wilson  Shannon, 
Governor  of  Kansas. 

"  At  2,  p.  m.,  7th  December,  Gen.  Stricklercame  to  my  quar- 
ters, and  informed  me  that  he  had  been  advised  that  a  plan  had 
been  laid  in  the  Wakarusa  camp  to  intercept  my  dispatches  to 
Col.  Sumner  at  Caw  River  crossing.  To  avoid  this,  I  requested 
the  General  to  start  the  messenger  immediately.  He  did  so ; 
and  the  express  rider  finally  left  at  2  o'clock,  a.  m.,  and  was 
directed  to  a  ford  upon  Caw  River  (not  the  usual  crossing),  by 
an  Indian  guide  from  the  Caw  bottom,  who  had  been  procured  for 
the  purpose  by  Col.  Boone.  To  his  letter  I  received  no  reply 
until  after  my  return  to  the  executive  office  at  Shawnee  Mission, 
when  an  answer  reached  me  on  the  11th  of  December. 

"  The  object  of  the  Pro-Slavery  men  in  attempting  to  intercept 
the  dispatches,  was  to  prevent,  if  possible,  the  arrival  of  tfai 
United  States  troops,  who,  they  feared,  would  restrain  them  from 
attacking  Lawrence.  By  gaining  time,  they  expected  to  make 
the  assault  before  any  force  could  be  brought  to  mediate  between 
the  conflicting  parties." 

Note  :  The  following  letter  from  Mr.  J.  C.  Anderson,  may 
very  properly  be  introduced  here,  as  an  evidence  of  the  highly 
excited  state  of  feeling  then  existing  in  the  Pro-Slavery  camp, 


THE  BLACK  FLAG. 


185 


to  which  Governor  Shannon  refers,  when — in  his  communication 
to  Col.  Sumner — he  speaks  of  these  people  as  being  beyond  his 
control.  Mr.  Anderson's  letter  is  addressed  to  Major  General 
Richardson,  the  commander  of  the  Pro-Slavery  forces.  The 
,vriter  is  a  member  of  the  Kansas  Legislature,  aud  resides  at 
Fort  Scott — is  strongly  Pro-Slavery  in  his  politics,  and  though 
pite  young,  took  a  leading  part  in  the  so-called  "  Bogus  Legis- 
ature  f  he  is  said,  moreover,  to  be  a  person  of  considerable 
ibility. 

J.  C.  ANDERSON  TO  GENERAL  RICHARDSON. 

[No  date.  Governor  Shannon's  secretary  suggests  that  they  were  so 
•usily  engaged  in  the  Wakarusa  camp,  at  the  period  when  this  epistle  was 
ienned,  in  trying  to  get  a  chance  at  Eternity,  that  they  lost  all  track  of 
ime.] 

Iajor  General  William  P.  Richardson  : 
Sir: 

I  have  reason  to  believe  from  rumors  in  camp  that  before  to- 
lorrow  morning  the  black  flag*  will  be  hoisted,  when  nine  out  of  ten  will 
ally  round  it,  and  march  without  orders  upon  Lawrence.  The  forces  at 
he  Lecompton  camp  fully  understand  the  plot,  and  will  fight  under  the 
ame  banner. 

If  Governor  Shannon  will  pledge  himself  not  to  allow  any  United  States 
fficer  to  interfere  with  the  arms  belonging  to  the  United  States  now 

I  their  possession, \  and,  in  case  there  is  no  battle,  order  the  United  States 
Drees  off  at  once,  and  retain  the  militia,  provided  any  force  is  retained — 

II  will  be  well,  and  all  will  obey  to  the  end,  and  commit  no  depredation 
pon  private  property  in  Lawrence. 

I  fear  a  collision  between  the  United  States  soldiers,  and  the  volunteers, 
hich  would  be  dreadful. 

Speedy  measures  should  be  taken.    Let  the  men  k?iow  at  once — to-night 

*  The  "black  flag"  was  to  be  the  signal  for  action,  in  case  the  more  incendiary  portion 
'the  Pro-Slavery  forces  should  determine  to  take  the  punishment  of  the  Free  State  party 
ito  their  own  hands. 

t  Most  probably  referring  to  certain  United  States  arms  (it  is  said  muskets),  which  some 
!  the  Clay  County  (Mo.)  Volunteers  are  reported  to  have  taken  from  the  arsenal  in  that 
cinity. 


186  SHANNON   ENTERS  LAWRENCE. 


— and  I  fear  that  it  will  even  then  be  too  late  to  stay  the  rashness  of  our 
people. 

Respectfully  your  obedt.  servt., 

J.  C.  Anderson. 

"On  the  morning  of  the  7th  I  repaired  to  the  town  of  Law- 
rence, having  on  the  evening  of  the  6th  been  invited,  by  a  com- 
mittee representing  the  citizens  of  that  town,  to  visit  their  place, 
for  the  purpose  of  arranging,  if  possible,  the  difficulties  which 
then  threatened  them.     On  my  road  to  Franklin,  which  lies 
midway  upon  the  route,  I  was  met  by  a  committee  of  ten  citi- 
zens of  Lawrence,  who  escorted  me  into  their  town,  where  I  was 
courteously  received.    I  was  conducted  to  an  upper  chamber  in 
the  Emigrant  Aid  Society's  Hotel,  and  had  a  long  interview 
with  Generals  Charles  Robinson  and  James  H.  Lane,  the  com- 
manders of  the  Free-State  forces,  who  were  appointed  on  the 
part  of  the  Lawrence  people  to  confer  with  me  in  relation  to 
the  then  existing  difficulties.    They  seemed  to  feel  no  hesitatioi 
in  assuring  me  that  the  territorial  laws  should  be  executed,  and 
that  there  should  be  no  obstacle  presented  to  the  serving  of  any 
legal  process  ;  they,  however,  as  representatives  of  the  citizen* 
of  Lawrence,  reserved  to  themselves  the  right  of  testing  the 
validity  of  these  laws  in  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  Unite* 
States.    They  both  claimed  that  the  majority  of  the  citizens  of 
Lawrence  and  its  vicinity  had  never  taken  any  other  ground.  1 
did  not — although  well  aware  of  the  incendiary  nature  of  tin 
resolutions  which  had  been  repeatedly  passed  at  the  varion' 
meetings  of  their  party — consider  it  necessary  at  the  time  tc 
enter  into  any  controversy  with  them  in  relation  to  their  pre 
vious  position  as  regarded  the  execution  of  the  territorial  law* 
— though  they  had  repeatedly  declared  those  laws  null  and  of  nt 
effect,  and  avowed  their  determination  to  "resist  them  to  a  blood} 
*issue.'    I  felt  it  to  be  my  duty  to  accept  their  present  deelaratioi 
as  an  apology  for  the  past,  and  an  assurance  (hollow  though  il 


MOMENTS  ARE  HOURS.  187 

might  be)  of  improvement  for  the  future.'  While  I  was  deter- 
mined, by  every  means  in  my  power,  and  even  if  necessary  by 
an  appeal  to  arms,  to  exact  obedience  to  the  law,  I  felt  urged 
by  every  dictate  of  humanity  to  prevent  a  collision  which  would 
inevitably  have  resulted  in  the  utter  destruction  of  Lawrence 
aud  its  inhabitants.  This  was,  indeed,  no  time  to  revive  past 
offences,  for  I  felt  fully  convinced  that  so  far  as  Lawrence  and 
its  inhabitants  were  concerned,  '  moments  were  hours.1 

"  I  satisfied  myself,  however,  that  there  was  then  no  person  in 
the  town  against  whom  writs  had  been  caused  to  issue,  as  the 
parties  had  left  the  place  several  days  before.  I  then,  moved  by 
the  consideration  of  the  fearful  danger  in  which  their  people  stood, 
stated  to  them  that  so  far  as  I  was  concerned,  as  the  chief  exe- 
cutive of  the  Territory,  the  arrangements  which  they  appeared 
williug  to  enter  into  in  good  faith  would  be  satisfactory  to  me  ; 
that  my  sole  purpose  was  to  secure  a  faithful  execution  of  the 
laws  ;  that  I  asked  nothing  more,  and  that  object  obtained,  I 
should  at  once  disband  the  posse.  At  the  same  time  I  explained 
to  them  the  difficulty  of  prevailing  upon  the  highly-incensed 
forces  then  surrounding  Lawrence  to  retire  without  attacking 
the  place  or  demanding  the  surrender  of  the  Sharpe's  rifles  and 
revolvers,  with  which  they  were  well  known  to  be  armed.  I 
added,  moreover,  that  the  idea  was  universally  prevalent,  both 
in  the  Lecompton  and  Wakarusa  camps,  that  these  weapons  had 
been  furnished  from  the  East  for  the  purpose  of  resisting  the 
execution  of  the  Territorial  laws  of  Kansas,  and  making  her  a 
free  State.  The  committee  declared  that  these  weapons  had 
neither  been  procured  nor  distributed  for  any  such  end,  but 
simply  to  defend  the  ballot-box  from  invasion.  Yet  it  cannot.be 
denied  that  they  admitted  to  me  that  these  arms  were  forwarded 
in  boxes  from  the  East,  having  been  written  for  by  General 
Robinson  for  the  purpose  aforesaid.  It  was  also  claimed  by 
General  Kobinson  that  these  arms  were  now  the  property  of 


188 


THE  BESEIGED  WON'T  SURRENDER. 


individuals,  as  they  'had  been  distributed  to,  and  a  certain 
amount  of  moneys  paid  for  them  by  the  persons  in  whose 
hands  they  then  were  ;  that  is  to  say,  each  man  who  received 
a  Sharpe's  rifle  paid  something  as  an  equivalent  ;  but,  from 
what  has  transpired,  it  is  my  belief  that  the  amount  so  paid 
bore  no  proportion  to  the  real  cost  or  value  of  the  arms  ;  iu 
fact,  it  is  currently  reported  that  the  sum  paid  for  these  Sharpe's 
rifles  by  their  receivers  did  not  average  over  three  dollars  per 
man.  It  is  computed  that  there  are  now  in  this  Territory  1,200 
Sharpe's  rifles,  which  have  been  brought  into  it  for  the  purpose 
of  arming  the  Free  State  faction.  The  cost  of  these  arms,  cal- 
culating them  at  $30  each,  would  give  a  total  of  $36,000. 
Now,  supposing  that  this  rumor  be  true,  that  each  of  these 
deadly  weapons  bring  but  $3  in  Kansas,  or  a  total  for  the  1,200 
of  but  $3,600— who,  let  me  ask,  loses  the  difference  of  $32,400? 
And  it  will  be  perceived  that  this  calculation  makes  no  allowance 
for  the  expenses  of  transportation  from  the  East. 

"  As  I  found  that  to  insist  upon  the  Free  State  troops  in  Law- 
rence giving  up  their  arms,  or  to  make  it  a  sine  qua  non  in  our 
arrangement,  would  inevitably  lead  to  a  conflict,  which  as  I  have 
before  stated,  I  most  earnestly  desired  to  avoid,  I  therefore 
merely  suggested  to  the  committee  that  they  should  surrender 
their  arms  to  Major  General  Richardson,  and  T  would  direct 
that  officer  to  receipt  for  the  weapons  so  received  ;  it  being 
understood  that  in  the  event  of  their  so  doing,  the  arms  thus 
receipted  for,  should  be  restored,  when,  in  the  opinion  of  the  chief 
executive,  it  could  be  done  with  propriety  ;  or,  if  they  preferred 
it,  they  might,  in  the  same  manner,  surrender  them  to  me.  I 
had  hoped  that  this  arrangement  could  have  been  effected,  as  it 
would  have  enabled  me  to  induce  the  forces  then  threatening 
Lawrence  to  withdraw  without  committing  any  acts  of  violence. 
#his  proposition  was  positively  declined.  The  committee  quali- 
fied their  refusal,  however,  by  stating,  on  the  part  of  the  citiaeM 


SHANNON  AS  A  PEACE-MAKER. 


of  Lawrence,  that  if  at  any  time  I  would  make  a  requisition  in 
writiDg,  stating  that  those  arms  were  required  for  the  purpose 
of  preserving  peace  and  good  order,  they  would  use  their  influ- 
ence to  comply  with  that  requisition.  I  then  closed  the  inter- 
view, being  satisfied  that  they  would  not  deliver  up  their  arms 
without  a  fight.  I  returned  to  the  Wakarusa  camp,  which  I 
reached  about  half-past  10  o'clock,  p.  m.  I  immediately  sought 
an  interview  with  the  most  influential  men  of  that  camp,  stated 
to  them  the  result  of  my  visit  to  Lawrence,  and  reported  what 
the  citizens  of  that  town  would,  and  would  not,  do  in  the  matters 
under  consideration.  To  a  large  majority  of  the  Wakarusa 
camp  the  concessions  made  by  the  Lawrence  people  were  wholly 
unsatisfactory,  but  a  number  of  the  leading  men,  although  dis- 
satisfied with  the  terms  offered,  agreed  to  use  their  influence 
with  their  companions  to  induce  their  immediate  and  peaceable 
withdrawal. 

"At  1  a.  m.,  Dec.  7,  I  learned  fram  a  reliable  source  that  a 
plan  was  on  foot  to  raise  the  "  black  flag,"  with  the  view  of 
throwing  off  the  authority  of  the  Territorial  executive  and  its 
officers  and  attacking  Lawrence  upon  their  own  responsibility. 
I  renewed  my  endeavors  for  peace,  and  with  the  leading  men 
did  all  in  my  power  to  dissuade  these  hot-headed  people  from  so 
unauthorized  a  movement." 

Note. — The  following  orders  were  issued  by  Governor  Shannon 
upon  the  8th  of  December,  to  Generals  Richardson  and  Strickler, 
to  prevent  any  unauthorized  attack  from  being  made  by  the  Pro- 
Slavery  volunteers  upon  Lawrence,  during  the  negotiations  which 
were  then  pending  between  the  leaders  of  the  opposing  parties  : 


190 


ORDERS   FROM  HEAD  QUARTERS. 


GOVERNOR  SHANNON  TO  GENERAL  RICHARDSON. 

Wakarusa,  December  8tht  1855. 

Major  .General  Richardson: 
Sir: 

You  will  repress  all  movements  of  a  disorderly  character,  and 
take  no  steps  except  by  order  from  me.  If  any  unauthorized  demonstra- 
tion should  be  made  upon  Lawrence,  you  will  immediately  use  your  whole 
force  to  check  it,  as  in  the  present  state  of  negotiations  an  attack  upon 
Lawrence  would  be  wholly  unjustifiable. 

Your  obdt.  servant, 

Wilson  Shannon. 

governor  shannon  to  general  strickler. 

Wakarusa,  December  8t7l,  1855. 

tjtENERAL  STRICKLER  *. 

Sir: 

You  will  repress  any  movements  of  a  disorderly  character.  Xo 
attack  must  be  permitted  upon  the  town  of  Lawrence  in  the  present  state  of 
things,  as  with  the  concessions  they  have  made,  and  are  willing  to  make 
to  the  supremacy  of  the  law,  such  an  attack  would  be  wholly  unjustifiable. 

Your  obdt.  servant, 

Wilson  Shannon. 


THINGS  LOOK  BADLY. 


191 


CHAPTER  XX. 

GOVERNOR'S  NARRATIVE  CONTINUED  THE  TREATY. 


u  On  the  morning  of  the  8th  of  December  things  looked  still 
worse.  I  was  advised  by  a  prominent  man  that  unless  the  citi- 
zens of  Lawrence  gave  up  their  arms,  the  place  would  be 
attacked,  and  I  had  better  consult  my  own  safety  and  keep  out  of 
danger.  My  reply  was,  that  I  should  consider  any  such  attack, 
after  the  declarations  which  had  been  made  by  the  people  of 
Lawrence,  as  wholly  unjustifiable,  and  that  I  should  use  every 
means  in  my  power  to  prevent  it.  This  I  at  once  made  prepara- 
tions to  do.  Early  in  the  morning  I  left  my  quarters  and 
repaired  to  the  Wakarusa  camp,  and  again  sought  out  some 
prominent  individuals  and  secured  their  assistance.  Upon  con- 
sultation with  these  gentlemen,  one  of  the  most  distinguished, 
proposed  to  select  a  committee  of  thirteen  captains,  to  meet  at 
Franklin  a  committee  from  the  Lawrence  camp,  with  the  view 
of  frankly  interchanging  opinions,  and  if  possible,  coming  to 
some  amicable  settlement  of  our  difficulties,  which  were  now 
becoming  hourly  more  complicated.  I  immediately  approved 
the  suggestion,  and  prepared  myself  without  delay  to  visit  Law- 
rence, where  I  hoped  to  procure  the  appointment  of  a  similar 
committee  on  their  part,  and  bring  them  out  to  Franklin,  which 
had  been  selected  as  a  proper  place  for  the  negotiation.  While  on 
my  way  to  Lawrence  I  halted  at  Franklin  for  a  short  time,  and  * 
while  there  the  committee  of  thirteen  captains  arrived,  and  at  my 


192  EVERYBODY  SATISFIED  AND  NOBODY  PLEASED. 

request  promised  to  remain  there  until  I  could  return  with  the 
representation  from  Lawrence.  When  I  entered  that  town  I 
found  that  the  people  had  held  a  meeting  the  night  before,  and 
had  reduced  to  writing  the  terms  on  which  they  proposed  to 
treat. 

"  These  written  stipulations  were,  so  far  as  their  promise  to  ex- 
ecute the  laws  was  concerned,  identical  with  those  verbally 
agreed  upon  the  day  before.  But  there  were  other  matters 
which  entered  into  this  document,  distasteful  both  in  their  sub- 
ject-matter and  phraseology.  These  I  caused  to  be  struck  out. 
The  remodelling  and  correction  of  this  paper  delayed  us  until 
four,  p.m.,  when  Generals  Robinson  and  Lane  repaired  with  me, 
as  a  committee  authorized  to  act  for  the  Lawrence  people,  to 
Franklin,  where  we  procured  a  room  and  organized  the  commit- 
tees for  business.  I  then  addressed  the  committees,  stating 
to  them  the  two  great  objects  which  I  so  earnestly  desired  to 
accomplish,  informing  them  of  what  had  been  done,  and  urging 
upon  them,  in  the  strongest  terms,  the  importance  of  acquiescing 
in  the  arrangement  which  I  had  made,  by  inducing  their  men  to 
retire  quietly.  After  closing  my  remarks,  General  Lane  ad- 
dressed the  committees.  He  was  followed  by  Colonel  Woodso^ 
of  Independence,  and  by  General  Robinson. 

"  After  a  conference  of  three  hours,  during  which  opinions  were 
freely  interchanged  on  both  sides,  the  committees  concluded  to 
withdraw  and  report  to  the  men  of  both  parties  that  they  were 
satisfied,  and  would  settle  matters  as  I  wished.  We  then  re- 
turned to  the  Wakarusa  camp,  which  we  reached  at  ten,  ?.  m., 
where  I  still  continued  to  press  upon  the  leading  men  the  im 
portance  of  withdrawing  with  their  men,  and  acceding  to  the 
terms  offered." 


SHANNON   CONCLUDES  A  TREATY. 


193 


THE  TREATY. 

The  following  is  an  accurate  copy  of  the  treaty  stipulations, 
entered  into  between  His  Excellency,  Wilson  Shannon,  Gover- 
nor of  Kansas  Territory,  and  Generals  Robinson  and  Lane,  the 
Commanders-in-chief  of  the  "  enrolled  forces,1'  in  the  city  of  Law^ 
rence. 

Whereas,  there  is  a  misunderstanding  between  the  people  of  Kansas,  or 
i  portion  of  them,  and  the  Governor  thereof,  arising  out  of  the  rescue  at 
lickory  Point  of  a  citizen  under  arrest,  and  other  matters.  And  whereas, 
i  strong  apprehension  exists  that  said  misunderstanding  may  lead  to  civil 
strife  and  bloodshed  ;  and  whereas,  as  it  is  desired  by  both  Governor  Shan- 
1011  and  the  citizens  of  Lawrence  and  its  vicinity,  to  avoid  a  calamity  so 
lisastrous  to  the  interests  of  the  Territory  and  the  Union ;  and  to  place  all 
>arties  in  a  correct  position  before  the  world.  Now,  therefore  it  is  agreed 
)y  the  said  Governor  Shannon  and  the  undersigned  citizens  of  the  said 
Territory,  in  Lawrence  now  assembled,  that  the  matter  is  settled  as  follows, 
o  wit: 

We,  the  said  citizens  of  said  Territory,  protest  that  the  said  rescue  was 
nade  without  our  knowledge  or  consent,  but  that  if  any  of  our  citizens  in 
aid  Territory  were  engaged  in  said  rescue,  we  pledge  ourselves  to  aid  in 
he  execution  of  any  legal  process  against  them  ;  that  we  have  no  knowledge 
>f  the  previous,  present,  or  prospective  existence  of  any  organization  in  the 
aid  Territory,  for  the  resistance  of  the  laws ;  and  we  have  not  designed 
nd  do  not  design  to  resist  the  execution  of  any  legal  service  of  any  crimi- 
ial  process  therein,  but  pledge  ourselves  to  aid  in  the  execution  of  the 
i\vs,  when  called  upon  by  the  proper  authority,  in  the  town  and  vicinity  of 
.awrence,  and  that  we  will  use  our  influence  in  preserving  order  therein, 
nd  declare  that  we  are  now,  as  we  have  ever  been,  ready  to  aid  the  Gov- 
mor  in  securing  a  posse  for  the  execution  of  such  process ;  provided,  that 
ny  person  thus  arrested  in  Lawrence  or  its  vicinity,  while  a  foreign  foe 
hall  remain  in  the  Territory,  shall  be  only  examined  before  a  United 
■tates  District  Judge  of  said  Territory,  in  said  town,  and  admitted  to  bail, 
nd  provided  further,  that  all  citizens  arrested  without  legal  process,  shall 
e  set  at  liberty ;  and  provided  further,  that  Governor  Shannon  agrees  to 
se  his  influence  to  secure  to  the  citizens  of  Kansas  Territory  remuneration 

9 

\ 


194  SHANNON   DISBANDS   HIS  ARMY. 

for  any  damage  suffered  in  any  unlawful  depredations,  if  any  such  have 
been  committed  by  the  Sheriff's  posse  in  Douglas  County.  And  further 
Governor  Shannon  states,  that  he  has  not  called  upon  persons,  residents 
of  any  other  States  to  aid  in  the  execution  of  the  laws  ;  that  such  as  are 
here  are  here  of  their  own  choice,  and  that  he  does  not  consider  thp.t  he 
has  any  authority  to  do  so,  and  that  he  will  not  call  upon  any  citizens  of 
any  other  State  who  may  be  here. 

We  wish  it  understood,  that  we  do  not  herein  express  any  opinion  ai  to 
the  validity  of  the  enactments  of  the  Territorial  Legislature. 

Wilson  Shannon, 
(Signed,)  Charles  Robinson, 

J.  H.  Lane. 

Done  in  Lawrence,  K.  T.  December  8th,  1855. 

"  It  was  not,  however,  until  daybreak  on  the  9th,  that  I  felt 
safe  in  issuing  my  orders  as  Chief  Executive  of  Kansas  Terri- 
tory, to  Sheriff  Jones,  and  Generals  Richardson  and  Strickler, 
to  disband  their  forces.  1  did  so  ;  my  instructions  were  complied 
with,  and  the  forces  assembled  in  camps  Lecoinpton  and  Wat* 
rusa  retired  without  committing  any  depredation  or  act  of  vio- 
lence, so  far  as  I  have  heard." 

And  here  it  will  become  our  duty  to  finish  our  summing  up, 
or,  to  speak  more  correctly,  Governor  Shannon's  summing  up,  of 
the  Pro-Slavery  argument  in  re  Kansas  and  her  war,  by  adding 
the  last  link  to 

"  This  strange  eventful  history," 

iu  the  shape  of  a  copy  of  His  Excellency's  official  orders  to  Ma- 
jor General  Richardson,  and  others,  disbanding  the  militia  and 
sheriff's  posse.,  or,  in  other  words,  giving  the  Border  Ruffians, 
then  and  there  assembled,  a  full  and  free  permission  to  take  ur. 
their  nunc  dimiiiis,  with,  we  fancy,  more  than  one  inward  prayei 
on  the  part  of  the  care-worn  Executive,  that  they  might  keep 
iu  mind  as  they  went,  the  farewell  caution  of  Bombastes  Furioso 
who  dismissed  his  followers  with 


"  Begone,  brave  army — don't  kick  up  a  row." 


EXEUNT  OMNES. 


195 


But  in  all  sober  earnest  here  follow  the  orders  : — 

Camp  Wakarusa,  Dec.  8th,  1855. 

Sir: 

Being  fully  satisfied  that  there  will  be  no  further  resistance  to  the 
xecution  of  the  laws  of  this  Territory,  or  to  the  service  of  any  legal  pro- 
eae  in  the  county  of  Douglas,  you  are  hereby  ordered  to  cross  the  Kansas 
liver  to  the  north  side  as  near  Lecompton  as  you  may  find  it  practicable 
rith  your  command,  and  disband  the  same  at  such  time  and  place,  and  in 
uch  numbers  as  you  may  deem  most  convenient. 

Yours,  with  great  respect, 

Wilson  Shannon, 

Major  Gen.  Richardson. 

Kansas  Territory,  Camp  Wakarusa,  Dec.  8tA,  1855. 

Sir: 

Being  fully  satisfied  that  there  will  be  no  further  resistance  to  the 
xecution  of  the  laws  of  this  Territory,  or  to  the  service  of  any  legal  pro- 
3ss  in  the  county  of  Douglas,  you  are  hereby  ordered  to  disband  your 
ommand  at  such  time  and  place  as  you  may  deem  most  convenient. 

Yours,  with  great  respect. 

Wilson  'Shannon. 

General  Strickler. 

Kansas  Territory,  Camp  Wakarusa,  Dec.  8th,  1855. 
Having  made  satisfactory  arrangements  by  which  all  legal  process  iD 
our  hands,  either  now  or  hereafter,  may  be  served  without  the  aid  of  your 
resent  posse,  you  are  hereby  required  to  disband  the  same. 

Yours,  with  great  respect, 

Wilson  Shannon. 

S.  J.  Jones,  Sheriff"  of  Douglas  County. 

We  doubt  whether  His  Excellency,  the  Governor  of  all 
Kansas,  ever  signed  documents  with  a  greater  degree  of  satisfac- 
on,  than  he  must  have  experienced  in  putting  his  autograph  to 
lese. 

Here  endeth  the  Governor's  History "  of  the  so-called 
Wakarusa  War" — a  "most  parlous "  campaign — which  will 
oubtless  render  the  shallow  creek  from  whence  it  takes  its 


196  SHANNON  ASSISTED    BY  THE  ELEMENTS. 

name  (and  that  name  by  the  way,  like  many  another  sweet 
Indian  appellation,  won't  bear  translation,  at  least  to  u  ears 
polite,"  in  this  most  modest  nineteenth  century),  as  well  as  the 
Yankee-built  city  of  Lawrence,  famous  throughout  all  co'nino 
time — "  So  mote-  it  be." 

Governor  Shannon  tells  us  that  it  seemed  to  him  as  if  th( 
yery  elements  fought  for  him  ;  for  it  turned  cold,  and  blew  as 
it  never  blew  before  in  Kansas — until  Bean's  "  Wakarus; 
Hotel"  was  so  full — as  its  good  landlady  expressed  it — tha' 
"you  couldn't  have  crowded  another  man  in  edgewise." 

Had  it  been  in  the  pleasant  summer  time,  or  had  the  weathei 
been  less  seasonable  than  it  was,  the  "Border  Ruffians"  migh 
be  scouting  about  the  Wakarusa  Creek  at  this  presen 
writing  ;  but  December's  winter  blasts  threw  cold  water  upoi 
^heir  quarrel,  until,  as  the  knowing  ones  say,  it  is  hard  tr 
determine  whether  the  gale  of  Saturday  night  or  the  pacifii 
counsel  of  the  Governor  did  most  towards  bringing  abou 
that  very  desirable  event — an  almost  bloodless  termination  t< 
"  the  Wakarusa  War."    And  now  for  another  matter. 

A  copy  of  a  certain  document,  addressed  to  General 
Robinson  and  Lane,  the  Commanders  of  the  Free  State  party  ii 
Lawrence,  and  signed  by  Governor  Shannon,  had  come  inn 
our  possession  before  we  entered  Kansas.  And  we  had  pro 
mised  that,  so  far  as  we  were  concerned,  that  document  shouli 
not  be  given  to  the  world.  But  as  it  was  rumored  that  a  dis 
position  existed,  on  the  part  of  certain  members  of  the  Frei 
State  party,  to  make  capital  out  of  the  existence  of  this  papei 
we  mentioned  the  fact — in  the  course  of  conversation— t 
Governor  Shannon,  that  we  were  aware  of  his  having  attachei 
his  signature  to  such  a  document,  at  the  same  time  exhibiiim 
to  him  its  duplicate  in  our  note-book.  The  Governor  seemei 
very  much  surprised  at  our  having  obtained  it,  but  adniittei 
its  authenticity,  and  remarked,  that  he  had  not  even  taken  i 


SHANNON  SIGNS  A  CERTAIN  PAPER. 


197 


;opy  for  himself.  The  document  alluded  to  is  a  communication 
which  we  publish  below  at  the  request  of  Governor  Shannon), 
tnthorizing  the  Free  State  Generals  to  use  the  force  under  their 
:ommand  for  certain  purposes  therein  named.  But  let  it  speak 
or  itself — it  runs  thus  : — 

0  C.     ROBINSON     AND    J.    H.    LANE,    COMMANDERS     OF    THE  ENROLLED 

CITIZENS  OF  LAWRENCE  : 

You  are  hereby  authorized  and  directed  to  take  such  measures  and  use 
he  enrolled  forces  under  your  command  in  such  manner,  for  the  preserva- 
ion  of  the  peace  and  the  protection  of  the  persons  and  property  of  the 
ieople  in  Lawrence  and  its  vicinity,  as  in  your  judgment  shall  best  secure 
hat  end. 

Wilson  Shannon. 

Lawrence,  Dec.  9th,  1S55. 

With  the  view  of  reconciling  this  apparent  inconsistency  in  the 
•fficial  conduct  of  Governor  Shannon — in  first  calling  out  the 
Territorial  militia  to  suppress  an  armed  mob,  assembled  in  direct 
'iolation  of  the  law,  aud  then  legalizing  the  existence  of  that 
nob  by  an  official  letter,  authorizing  the  same  persons  to  act  as 

1  military  body,  at  their  own  discretion,  and  for  an  unlimited 
ength  of  time — we  took  the  liberty  of  addressing  a  communica- 
ion  to  Gov.  Shannon,  in  which  we  requested  His  Excellency 
o  furnish  us  with  any  explanation  which  he  might  feel  disposed 
o  give.    The  following  is  his  reply  r — 

GOVERNOR  SHANNON'S  REPLY. 
Executive  Office,  Shawnee  Mission,  K.  T.,  December  25th,  1855. 

Dear  Sir  : 

Your  favor  of  this  day's  date  is  before  me.    In  reply  I  have 

0  state  that  the  arrangement  of  the  difficulties  with  the  citizens  assembled 

1  the  town  of  Lawrence  during  the  recent  disturbances,  was  reduced  to 
ruing  by  myself,  and  intended  to  be  on  liberal  terms,  and  honorable  alike 
o  all  parties.  In  my  arrangement  with  them  my  great  object  was  to 
ecure  the  supremacy  of  th  -  law,  and  bring  about,  if  possible,  a  more 


198 


WE  ASK  AN  EXPLANATION. 


friendly  feeling  between  the  two  conflicting  parties,  and  thus  secure  a  lasting 
peace  and  amicable  relations.  I  knew  the  object  would  be  defeated  by  insist- 
ing on  any  terms  that  would  be  humiliating  to  the  parties  concerned,  aad 
I  was  determined  to  extend  to  the  citizens  assembled  in  Lawrence  every 
opportunity  for  placing  themselves  in  what  I  deemed  a  correct  position  in 
reference  to  the  execution  of  the  laws.  The  paper  which  was  shown  you 
was  probably  a  correct  copy  of  the  arrangement  entered  into  on  the  8th 
instant. 

As  to  the  paper  dated  on  the  9th  instant,  and  purporting  to  be  addressed 
to  C.  Robinson  and  J.  H.  Lane,  I  desire  to  make  an  explanation,  so  as  to 
present  the  truth  in  relation  to  the  manner  in  which  it  was  obtained,  as 
well  as  my  object  in  signing  it.  In  order  to  understand  this  matter,  it  is 
necessary  that  I  should  make  some  preliminary  statements. 

On  the  morning  of  the  9th,  about  sunrise,  I  issued  my  orders  for  dis- 
banding the  forces  assembled  around  Lawrence.  I  remained  at  the  Waka- 
rusa  camp  until  the  forces  at  that  place  had  retired.  This  they  did  in 
good  order.  About  10  o'clock  a.  m.  of  that  day  (being  Sunday),  I  went  in 
company  with  Brigadier  General  Strickler  to  Lawrence,  where,  with  Sheriff 
Jones  and  others  of  the  Pro-Slavery  party,  I  spent  a  considerable  portion 
of  the  day.  In  the  evening  I  was  invited  to  attend  a  social  gathering  of 
ladies  and  gentlemen  of  the  town  of  Lawrence,  at  the  Emigrant  Aid  Society 
Hotel,  which  I  accepted.  There  were  but  two  rooms  finished  in  the  hotel; 
they  were  small,  and  in  the  third  story,  and  were,  therefore,  very  much 
crowded  by  the  company  assembled.  The  time  was  spent  in  the  most 
friendly  and  social  manner,  and  it  seemed  to  be  a  matter  of  congratulation 
on  every  side  that  the  difficulties  so  lately  threatening  had  at  length  been 
brought  to  a  happy  termination.  In  the  midst  of  this  convivial  party,  and 
about  ten  o'clock  at  night,  Dr.  C.  Robinson  came  to  me,  in  a  state  of 
apparent  excitement,  and  declared  that  their  picket  guard  had  just  come  in 
and  reported  that  there  was  a  large  irregular  force  near  the  town  of  Law- 
rence who  were  threatening  an  attack ;  adding  that  the  citizens  of  Lawrence 
claimed  the  protection  of  the  Executive,  and  to  this  end  desired  me  to  give 
himself  and  Genl.  Lane  written  permission  to  repel  the.  threatened  assault. 
I  replied  to  Dr.  Robinson  that  they  did  not  require  any  authority  from  me, 
as  they  would  be  entirely  justified  in  repelling  by  force  any  attack  upon 
their  town ;  that  the  law  of  self-preservation  was  sufficient,  and  that  any 
authority  which  I  might  give  would  add  nothing  to  its  strength.  Til*1 
Doctor  replied  that  they  had  been  represented  as  having  arrayed  them- 
selves against  the  laws  and  public  officers  of  the  Territory,  and  that  he 


SHANNON  EXPLAIN 


J99 


therefore  wished  me  to  give  him  written  authority  to  repel  the  threatened 
assault,  so  that  it  might  appear  hereafter,  if  a  rencounter  did  take  place, 
that  they  were  not  acting  against,  but  with  the  approbation  of  the  Territo- 
rial executive.  With  this  view,  amid  an  excited  throng,  in  a  small  and 
crowded  apartment,  and  without  any  critical  examination  of  the  paper 
which  Dr.  Robinson  had  just  written,  I  signed  it ;  but  it  was  distinctly 
understood  that  it  had  no  application  to  anything  but  the  threatened  attack 
on  Lawrence  that  night. 

I  had,  during  my  negotiations  with  Dr.  Robinson,  as  one  of  the  committee 
on  behalf  of  the  citizens  assembled  in  Lawrence,  repeatedly  assured  him 
that  if  the  people  of  that  place  would  acknowledge  the  validity  of  the  Ter- 
ritorial laws  until  otherwise  determined  by  legitimate  authority,  and  would 
place  themselves  under  their  protection,  I  would  exert  all  the  power  vested 
in  me  to  protect  the  citizens  of  that  town,  both  in  their  persons  and  pro- 
perty, and  in  securing  them  from  an  attack.  And  I  will  here  state  that 
after  an  arrangement  had  been  made  with  those  assembled  in  Lawrence, 
and  after  my  assurances  of  protection,  so  far  as  in  my  power  lay,  I  should 
have  looked  upon  any  assault  upon  the  town  of  Lawrence  on  the  night  of 
December  the  9th  as  an  outrage,  and  wholly  unjustifiable,  and  I  should  have 
felt  myself  bound,  both  in  duty  and  honor,  to  have  exerted  myself  to  the 
utmost  to  have  prevented  so  unwarrantable  an  act  of  violence. 

It  was  under  these  circumstances,  and  with  the  view  of  carrying  out  in 
good  faith  my  assurances  to  the  citizens  of  that  place  (pending  negotia- 
tions) and  to  avoid  all  cause  of  complaint  on  the  part  of  the  people  of  Law- 
rence, on  any  pretext,  for  breaking  from  the  stipulations  concluded  but 
the  day  before,  that  I  signed  a  paper  authorizing  C.  Robinson  and  J.  H. 
Lane  to  repel  the  threatened  attack  on  the  town  of  Lawrence.  It  was 
done  on  my  part  with  the  kindest  and  best  of  motives,  from  an  earnest 
desire  to  restore  harmony  and  confidence.  It  did  not  for  a  moment  occur 
to  me  that  this  pretended  attack  upon  the  town  was  but  a  device  to  obtain 
from  me  a  paper  which  might  be  used  to  my  prejudice.  I  supposed  at  the 
time  that  I  was  surrounded  by  gentlemen  and  by  grateful  hearts,  and  not 
by  tricksters,  who,  with  fraudulent  representations,  were  seeking  to  obtain 
an  advantage  over  me.  I  Was  the  last  man  on  the  globe  who  deserved  such 
treatment  from  the  citizens  of  Lawrence.  For  four  days  and  nights,  and 
at  the  cost  of  many  valuable  friends,  whose  good  will  I  have  forfeited  by 
favoring  too  pacific  a  course,  I  had  labored  most  incessantly  to  save  their 
town  from  destruction  and  their  citizens  from  a  bloody  fight. 
On  the  next  morning  after  this  transaction  took  place,  upon  the  most 


200 


WHY  WE  ASKED. 


diligent  inquiry,  I  could  not  learn  that  any  force  whatever  had  ever  made 

its  appearance  before  Lawrence  upon  the  previous  night ;  and  on  a  full 
inquiry  into  the  matter  since,  I  am  now  satisfied  that  there  was  no  hostile 
party  at  any  place  near  Lawrence  on  the  night  of  the  9th. 

This  paper,  obtained  as  I  have  stated,  has,  I  presume,  been  shown  by 
Doctor  Robinson,  and  copies  permitted  to  have  been  taken  and  used,  for  the 
purpose  of  giving  an  air  of  legality  to  the  acts  of  the  citizens  assembled  in 
Lawrence  previous  to  its  date.  No  such  purpose  was  contemplated  by  me, 
and  I  repeat,  that  the  paper  I  signed  was  only  intended  to  apply  to  the 
alleged  threatening  of  the  town  of  Lawrence  by  an  armed  force,  on  the 
night  of  December  9th,  and  if  it  was  obtained,  or  has  been  used  for  any 
other  purpose,  it  is  an  exhibition  of  base  ingratitude  and  low  trickery, 
which  should  render  infamous  the  name  of  every  one  connected  with  it. 

Yours,  with  great  respect, 

Wilson  Shannon. 

If  the  reader  should  be  so  curious  as  to  ask  the  motives  which 
actuated  us  in  addressing  this  "  call  for  information  "  to  General 
Shannon,  in  regard  to  the  nature  and  intention  of  the  document 
just  alluded  to,  we  should  answer  that,  we  had  two  reasons  for 
so  doing.  The  first,  being  a  desire  to  sift  thoroughly,  and  weigh 
well  the  statements  which  had  been  made  to  us,  for  the  journalist 
must  ever  be  a  convert  to  the  rule  of  believing  but  half  that  he 
sees  and  almost  nothing  that  he  hears.  And  where,  let  me  ask, 
can  you  find  an  apter  illustration  of  the  necessity  of  this  "  ower 
carefulness,"  if  such  it  be,  than  in  the  present  instance  ?  We 
might  even,  had  we  been  so  minded,  have  preached  from  this 
unlucky  paper  as  from  a  text,  and  proved  thereby  that  the 
Governor  of  Kansas  was  little  better  than  a  walking  contradic- 
tion ;  at  least,  we  shpuld  have  made  this  clear  to  all  who  looked 
no  further  than  the  document  in  question.  Yet,  who  does  not 
know  that  "it  is  the  letter  that  kills "  while  "  the  spirit  giveth 
life."  To  sum  up  the  whole  matter,  this  legalizing  of  the 
"  armed  outlaws  "  in  Lawrence,  is  either  a  mountain  or  a  mole- 
hill ;  take  it  as  it  appears,  and  it  is  a  Mount  Pelion  ;  explain  it. 


TWO  GOOD  REASONS. 


201 


and  lo  !  the  mountain  Las  been  in  labor,  and  brought  forth — a 
mouse.    So  much  for  our  first  motive. 

As  regards  the  second,  we  are  free  to  confess  that  we  havef 
taken  a  fancy  to  the  Governor — he  did  all  he  could  to  lighten 
our  news-hunting  labors — he  gave  us  a  hearty  welcome,  and 
seemed  to  regret  our  departure;  and  that,  too,  in  a  country 
where  we  were  literally  "  a  stranger  among  strangers."  This  is 
a  cold  world,  and  kindness  should  be  reciprocal.  Governor 
Shannon  is,  moreover  (or  at  least  we  think  so),  in  his  anxieties 
for  the  best  good  of  Kansas,  a  verv  single-hearted  man  ;  he  has 
also  occupied  a  somewhat  prominent  position  in  the  world  of 
American  politics,  in  which  he  has  filled  various  offices — such  as 
Minister  to  Mexico,  Governor  of  Ohio,  and  others  of  lesser  note, 
with  credit  to  himself,  and  satisfaction  to  those  whom  he  has 
represented.  And  finally  upon  this  subject,  if  a  third  reason 
should  be  required,  we  will  add  it  in  the  form  of  an  article  of 
our  creed,  which  enjoins  upon  us  the  belief  that  every  individual 
and  every  party  is,  at  all  times  and  in  all  places,  entitled  to  the 
benefit  of  what  they  call,  in  Western  Texas,  a  white  man's 
chance."  And  in  saying  this,  we  are  compelled  to  admit  that 
we  have  followed  the  very  ladylike  practice  of  keeping  our 
strongest  reason  for  the  last. 

By  the  way,  there  is  one  little  incident  connected  with  the 
reception  of  the  Governor's  letter  of  elucidation,  which  will  bear 
repeating.  Governor  Shannon  asked  us,  as  we  glanced  over  his 
epistle,  if  we  thought  he  had  made  it  strong  enough.  We  were 
reading  the  concluding  sentence  at  the  time,  and  we  made  bold 
to  assure  him  that  it  would  be  "  painting  the  lily,"  in  that 
respect,  to  alter  a  single  line  ;  for  if  this  explanation  be  not 
strong  enough,  we  only  wonder  how  His  Excellency  contrives 
to  get  his  powerful  ones  through  the  mail-bags,  for  we  should 
fancy  that  they  might  almost  rival  the  u  Artful  Dodger's  cele- 


9* 


202 


A  MYSTERIOUS  EPISTLE. 


brated  tea,"  which  had  arrived  at  that  degree  of  strength  'that  it 
required  a  safety-valve  to  the  tea-pot  to  prevent  an  explosion. 

The  following  epistle  has  just  been  handed  us.  We  copy  from 
the  original  document,  a  much  mutilated  and  not  over  cleanly 
bit  of  paper,  six  inches  by  four,  badly  spelt,  and  evidently  writ- 
ten with  a  view  to  disguise  the  hand.  It  was  folded  in  a  self- 
sealing  note-envelope,  with  an  ornamental  seal  pressed  into  the 
paper  of  so  peculiar  a  stamp  that  an  expert  policeman  could 
hardly  fail,  in  a  small  town  like  Lawrence,  to  discover  its 
author.  It  is  directed  to  "  Sheriff  Jones,  Lawrence,  K.  T. " 
by  whom  it  was  recently  received,  through  the  Lawrence  post- 
office  :  it  reads  thus,  "  short  and  sweet  "  : — 

[No  date.] 

Sheriff  Jones — You  are  notified  that  if  you  make  one  more  arrest  by 
the  order  of  any  magistrate  appointed  by  the  Kansas  Bogus  Legislature, 
that  in  so  doing  you  will  sign  your  own  Death  Warrant.    Per  order. 

Secret  Twelve. 

This  dispatch  is  as  "  ultra  "  in  its  tone  as  the  most  enthusi- 
astic agitator  could  wish. 

We  have  just  learned  by  a  gentleman  this  day  from  Lecomp- 
ton,  that  he  was  in  Lawrence  on  the  Tuesday  following  the  dis- 
banding of  the  militia,  and  then  and  there  saw  some  fifteen  or 
twenty  men  engaged  in  digging  entrenchments.  To  use  his  own 
expression,  "  they  are  adding  some  circular  earth  forts  "  Our 
informant  also  states  that  they  have  a  flag  still  flying  over  the 
town — a  tri-color — red,  white,  and  blue — the  stripes  running  in 
the  same  manner  as  those  of  the  American  ensign,  but  no  stars. 
What  does  this  strengthening  of  breastworks  mean  ?  Is  not 
peace  made,  ratified,  and  concluded  ? 


SKA SON ABLE. 


203 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

CHRISTMAS  IN  KANSAS. 

Christmas-day — cold,  bitter,  freezing,  seasonable  as  it  ought 
to  be  ;  a  little  too  "  seasonable,"  perhaps,  for  the  like  of  this,  in 
the  way  of  biting  winter '  weather,  has  never  been  known  in 
Kansas,  even  in  the  memory  of  that  highly  respectable  indivi- 
dual— the  oldest  inhabitant.  The  ground  is  covered  with  snow. 
At  Council  Bluffs  it  is  said  to  be  six  feet  in  depth  ;  and  for'  the 
past  three  days  the  mercury  here  has  indicated  from  ten  to 
twenty-two  degrees  below  zero;  other  authorities  say  thirty-three, 
but  we  have  no  desire  to  make  it  any  worse — it's  bad  enough  as 
it  is — in  fact  we  have  been  so  much  annoyed  of  late  by  weather-, 
wise  observers,  who  will  insist  upon  quoting  their  different  and 
differing  thermometers  for  our -especial  benefit,  that  we  begin 
to  entertain  almost  as  decided  an  "  enemosity  n  to  that  sensitive 
instrument  as  did  the  old  lady  down  East,  who,  on  being  informed 
upon  a  certain  scorching  day  in  August,  that  "  the  thermometer 
made  it  five  degrees  hotter,"  begged  her  son  John  to  "  take  the 
darned  thing  out  of  doors  afore  it  sot  the  house  on  fire."  We 
forget  whether  this  thrice-told  tale  has  been  credited  to  Mrs. 
Partington  or  not. 

But  to  return — we  even  hear  of  people  being  frost-bitten  on 
lonely  prairie  roads, 

"  Smoothed  up  with  snow," 


204  OUR  CORRESPONDENT'S  CHRISTMAS. 

where,  if  trie  traveller  should  wander  from  the  unbeaten  track, 
his  chance — unless  he  be  a  better  path-finder  than  new-comers 
generally  are — is  small  indeed.  Old  Kansas  settlers  say  that 
last  year  some  people  froze  to  death  ;  and  we  can  Readily  ima- 
gine it,  for  Siberia  itself  could  hardly  look  more  frigidly  repul- 
sive than  these  frozen,  snow-drifted  wastes  of  Eastern  Kansas. 

And  this  is  Christmas  ! — Dear,  old-fashioned,  merry-hearted 
Christmas! — which  we  have  longed  for,  and  welcomed,  and 
honored  truly  from  a  boy.  But  there's  some  mistake  this  year  ; 
for  though  to-day  is,  beyond  a  doubt,'  December  the  25th,  on 
which,  as  everybody  knows,  Christmas  ought  and  used  to  come, 
we  haven't  seen  it  yet — our  Christmas  we  mean.  Alas  !  what 
evil  fortune — our  festival,  with  its  friendly  gifts  and  right  good 
wishes  ;  its  turkey  dinner,  pleased  little  ones,  toasts,  mince  pie, 
evergreen  decorated  church,  sermon,  and  all  that  sort  of  thiug, 
is  on  the  t'other  side  of  those  far-off  Alleghany  mountains.  So 
we  must  even  make  the  Christmas  of  1855  a  working-day,  if 
only  in  self-defence  to  occupy  the  mind  and  drive  away  those 
confounded  visitors — the  Blue  Devils,  which  will  intrude  them 
selves,  though  all  unbidden,  when  the  "  voyageur  "  treats  him- 
self to  that  most  dangerous  luxury,  a  fit  of  musing,  which 
bears  him  back,  "  on  Fancy's  restless  wing,"  to  distant  friends 
and  home. 

And  thus  it  happened  that  "  Our  Correspondent's "  Christ- 
mas-day dwindled  down  into  plain  December  the  twenty-fifth, 
which  we  passed  in  writing — bating  a  meridian  egg-nog — until 
the  gloomy  winter  evening  was  deepening  the  shadows  in  the 
Governor's  as  yet  unlighted  chamber,  when  we  received  a  spe- 
cial envoy  in  the  person  of  Mr.  Johnson,  the  superintendent  of 
the  Mission,  who  intimated  to  us  that  his  good  lady  would  be 
happy  to  see  Governor  Shannon  and  his  suite — of  which  we,  by 
courtesy,  formed  one,  for  the  time  being — in  their  private  "  sit- 
ting room,"  where  she  would  have  the  pleasure  ef  introducing 


HAPPY  CHILDREN. 


205 


to  our  notice  an  "  apple  toddy,"  with  accompanying  refresh- 
ments, concocted  by  her  own  fair  hands  ;  an  invitation  which 
we  were  not  slow  to  accept.  Reader  !  did  you  ever  taste 
apple  toddy  ?  If  you  haven't,  try  it  ;  when  it  is  just  possible 
that  you  may  discover  why  we  don't  like  it,  too.  Take  an 
old  man's  advice,  and  never  mix  your  liquor,  Charley,"  was 
the  recommendation  of  that  veteran  stager,  Major  Monsoon,  to 
his  young  friend  O'Malley  ;  and  we  firmly  believe  that  if  old 
Monsoon  had  been  requested  to  imbibe  apple  toddy,  he  would 
have  pronounced  it  a  terrible  compound,  involving  an  awful 
waste  of  "  the  groceries."  But  if  the  mixture  was  question- 
able, its  accessories  were  not  ;  and  better  still,  we  found,  upon 
descending  to  Mistress  Johnson's  sanctum,  a  huge  open  wood, 
fire  (our  old  favorite),  and  plenty  of  children  (another  pet  of 
ours),  all  busily  engaged,  like  Mrs.  Bradford's  "  Benny,"  in 

"Digging  deep  among  the  goodies 
In  their  crimson  stockings  hid  ;" 

and  raising  the  very  Ancient  Edward  himself  in  their  boisterous 
glee.  It  was  a  pleasant  thing  to  mark  their  gambols,  and  to  lis- 
ten to  those  little  ones,  too  ;  for  their  merry  shouts  filled  that 
"  fire-lighted  chamber  "  with  joyous  echoes.  But  as  we  watched 
their  sport  there  came  up  to  our  mind 

"A  fearful  vision  fraught  with  all  that  lay  between," 

of  that  uncertain  future  whose  sorrows  would,  in  coming  years, 
wrinkle  those  fair  young  brows  and  dim  those  gaily  laughing 
eyes— and  then,  as  we  turned  from  the  far-off  Future  to  walk 
sorrowfully  with  the  recent  Past,  what  bitter  recollections 
came  crowding  in  of  Death's  stern  doings  within  the  year  which 
was  now  growing  grey  and  old — and  oh  !  how  chillingly  they 
fell  upon  our  heart,  as  our  spirit  drifted '  out — borne  up  by  the 


206 


THE  GHOST  OF  CHRISTMAS  PAST. 


Ghost  of  Christmas  Past,  into  the  chill  December  air — to  sweep 
over  many  a  snow-clad  mount  and  ice-bound  river,  and  traverse 
plain,  and  lake,  and  leafless  forest,  until  it  reached  the  spot, 
made  sunshine  but  a  twelve-month  ago  by  the  presence  of  one 
too  pure  for  earth,  whose  infant  form  now  sleeps  that  long  l,ist 
rest  which  knows  no  waking,  beneath  the  frozen  clods  of  a  sea- 
side city  of  the  dead.  What  wonder,  then,  that  we  are  sad 
to-night  ! 

It  may  interest  the  New  York  juveniles  to  know  that  in  the 
Far  Western  country,  a  child's  first  Christmas  salutation  to 
every  one  it  meets,  is  "  Christmas  gift — Christmas  gift."  They 
!atch  you  always,  if  they  can.  We  tried  to  get  ahead  of  a  blue- 
eyed,  curly-headed  little  lady  this  morning — a  daughter  of  Mr. 
Woodson,  the  Secretary  of  State — but  Miss  Betty  was  too 
smart  for  us,  and  cried  "  Christmas  gift,"  before  we  could  open 
our  mouth. 

So  much  for  our  Christmas  day  in  Kansas. 

Shawnee  Mission,  Dec.  26. 

We  must  talk  politics  to-day  or  nothing,  so  we  will  even  ex- 
tract the  very  lightest  paragraph  from  our  latest  journalizing, 
and  introduce  it  here. 

Judge  S  ,  the  Free  State  candidate  for  ,  had  a  Ion: 

conversation  with  Governor  Shannon  in  the  executive  office  yes- 
terday. The  Judge  is,  as  we  are  informed,  a  New  Yorker ; 
that  is  to  say,  from  the  interior  of  that  State.  He  is  reported 
to  have  left  there  in  disgust,  because,  to  quote  from  his  Honor's 
own  words,  as  expressed  to  a  distinguished  individual  in  the 
Territory,  "He  would  not  live  in  a  State  where  his  next  door 
neighbor — a  better  man  than  himself — who  had,  however,  the 
misfortune  to  be  naturally  dark-colored,  with  a  slight  kink  in 
his  hair — could  not  cast  his  vote,  because  he  was  not  a  free- 
holder."   As  may  be  presumed  from  this,  the  Judge  is  an  Abo- 


A  T0LITIC1L  DIALOGUE. 


201 


litionist,  "  dyed  in  the  wool."  But  be  this  as  it  may,  the  Judge 
is  spoken  of  as  a  man  of  his  word,  and  a  person  whose  statements 
may  be  relied  upon.  We  therefore  attach  more  importance  to 
the  following  dialogue  : — 

Judge. — Do  you  really  believe,  Governor,  that  there  will  be 
any  appeal  to  arms  made  by  the  contending  parties  in  this  Ter- 
ritory ? 

Governor. — Everything  tends  that  way  at  the  present  time, 
sir.  I  think  that  this  must  be  the  final  result,  for  I  have  not  a 
particle  of  confidence  in  the  present  state -of  quiet. 

Judge. — As  I  am  now  going  East,  I  will,  in  such  an  event, 
send  out  men  and  arms  to  the  Free  State  party  in  Kansas.  The 
Missourians  talk  of  '  wiping  us  out,'  but  they  can't  do  it,  sir — 
they  can  never  do  it — for  the  Free  States  can  raise  twenty 
dollars  to  one,  and  four  men  to  one  over  the  slaveholding  States. 

Secretary  of  State. — I  reckon  you  are  going  East  for  that 
purpose,  anyhow,  Judge. 

To  this  insinuation  the  Judge  returned  no  definite  reply,  but 
smiled  significantly.  ^ 

Governor. — Do  you  not  think,  Judge,  if  your  folks  get  to 
fighting  in  Kansas,  that  the  war  will  extend  to  other  parts  of 
our  country,  and  finally  terminate  in  the  dissolution  of  the  Union  ? 

Judge. — Certainly  it  will.  I  think  the  Union  won't  last  six 
months,  or  a  year  at  the  most. 

And  here  we  came  away — or  our  informant  did,  who  formed 
one  of  the  party. 

The  following  may  be  relied  on  as  a  part  of  the  present  inten- 
tions and  prospects  of  the  Free  State  party  in  Kansas.  It 
comes  from  one  of  their  most  prominent  men,  whose  name  has 
been  placed  upon  their  ticket  for  State  officers. 

They  intend  putting  their  Free  State  government  into  opera- 
tion at  any  cost.  They  have  no  hopes  that  Congress  will  admit 
Kansas  as  a  State,  during  its  present  session,  but  declare  that 


208 


A  NEGRO  STANDARD-BEARER. 


they  have  positive  assurances  that,  to  favor  their  views,  no 
appropriation  for  the  support  of  the  Territorial  government  in 
Kansas  will  be  made,  even  if  it  should  be  necessary  to  defeat 
the  General  Appropriation  Bill  in  so  doing,  in  which  event, 
they  hope  the  Territorial  government  will  "  die  out,"  and  per- 
mit their  State  administration  to  step  into  its  shoes.  This 
is  to  be  done  in  the  House  of  Representatives.  They  do  not 
claim  strength  in  the  Senate.  But  whether  this  takes  place  or 
not,  they  have  decided  that  their  Free  State  government  is  to 
go  into  operation  on  the  4th  of  March  next,  at  which  time  they 
will  inaugurate  their  State  officers. 

To-day  is  December  27.  And  now,  if  there  be  any  fun  iu 
the  Kansas  question,  we  will  extract  it,  if  we  can  ;  but  don't  be 
critical,  kind  reader,  for  it's  about  as  hopeless  a  task  to  get 
blood  from  a  stone,  as  a  good  joke  out  of  political  wire-pulling  ; 
but  if  the  subject  have  a  "sunny  side,"  we'll  find  it,  for  the 
present,  upon  its  'Southern  exposure,  so  we  shall,  therefore, 
indulge  ourself  in  a  few  Pro-Slavery  yarns,  which,  as  they 
are  veritable  facts,  and  withal,  "nuts  to  crack"  for  somebody, 
may  as  well  come  in  here. 

Yarn  the  First. — We  are  assured  that  the  standard  of  the 
Pro-Slavery  company,  which  marched  to  the  seat  of  war  from 
Jackson  County,  Mo.  was  carried  by  a  slave — a  slave  bora, 
and  bred,  and  dyed  in  the  wool  ;  in  short,  what  a  certain  person 
we  wot  of  would  elegantly  designate,  as  "a  long-heeled,  thick- 
lipped,  flat-nosed,  and  kinky-headed  specimen  of  the  benighted 
and  down-trodden  Sons  of  Africa,"  who  nevertheless  marched 
gallantly  in  the  van,  bearing  aloft  the  banner  of  Pro-Slavery, 
and  withal,  "  armed  and  equipped  as  Border  law  directs,"  to 
encounter  those  who  "  had  been  talking "  of  shedding  their  life's 
blood  for  his  benefit.  And  this  is  what  these  ferocious  u  Border 
Ruffians  call  *  putting  the  seeds  of  dissension  in  the  leadP 

Yarn  the  Second. — Some  months  ago  a  slaveholder  in  Lafa- 


A  BODY-GUARD  OF  SLAVES. 


209 


yette  County,  Mo.,  passed  through  the  town  of  Westport,  in 
that  State,  on  his  way  to  select  a  farming  location  in  Kansas 
Territory.  He  was  accompanied  by  half  a  dozen  likely  negroes 
from  his  own  plantation,  all  well  mounted  and  completely  armed, 
each  fellow  having  a  Colt's  navy  revolver  tucked  into  his  right 
boot. 

"  Where  the  deuce  are  you  going  to  with  those  niggers  V9 
shouted  an  inquisitive  friend  to  the  planter,  as  the  cavalcade 
trotted  into  Westport. 

"  Going  ?"  was  the  reply,  "  why,  where  should  I  be  going  ? 
I'm  bound  for  Kansas  to  hunt  a  claim,  and  as  I  knew  I'd  have  to 
go  by  Lawrence,  and  down  among  those  vile  abolitionists,  I 
thought  I'd  better  have  a  body-guard,  and  brought  some  of 
my  niggers  along  accordingly." 

Yarn  the  Third. — An  old  negro  man,  a  slave,  belonging  to 
a  gentleman  in  the  vicinity  of  Westport,  was  asked  whether  he 
did  not  "  want  to  go  and  live  among  the  Free  State  men  in  Law- 
rence ?"  when  he  instantly  replied  : 

"  No  !  s'pect  not,  massa,  dis  nigger  been  raised  'mong  quality 
— couldn't  think  of  gwine  thar,  sir  :  drather  stay  at  home  'mong 
white  folks." 

It  is  currently  reported  in  these  parts,  that  when  a  planter 
wishes  to  scare  a  refractory  darkey  into  good  behavior,  he  has 
only  to  threaten  selling  him  to  a  Lawrence  man,  which  operates 
as  effectually  as  a  hint  to  a  nigger  in  the  Old  Dominion,  that 
he's  off  for  New  Orleans,  if  he  dont  amend. 

If  strong  Pro-Slavery  sympathizers  are  to  be  believed,  the  South 
must  be  "  up  and  rising  "  upon  the  Kansas  question.  She  will, 
they  say,  pour  a  tremendous  emigration  into  the  Territory  in 
the  early  spring.  The  following  items  may,  we  think,  among  a 
mass  of  rumors  which  want  foundation,  be  relied  upon,  as  we 
have  derived  them  from  the  highest  and  most  respectable  sources  : 

From  one  county  in  Georgia,  one  hundred  bona  fide,  emigrants 


210 


KANSAS   EMIGRATION  FROM  THE  SOUTH. 


have  already  made  their  preparations  to  start.    More  will  leave 

from  other  counties  in  that  State. 

From  Mississippi  no  less  a  personage  than  Gen.  Quitman  himself, 
with  some  hundreds  of  the  boys  of  the  Cotton  State,  are  confi- 
dently looked  for.  Gen.  Quitman  has  (it  is  said),  given  $2,500 
to  promote  the  objects  of  the  Southern  Kansas  Aid  Emigration 
Society.  This  may  not  be  the  proper  title  of  the  association, 
but  it  has  the  peopling  of  Kansas  by  Pro-Slavery  men  for 
its  aim. 

Colonel  Buford,  of  Alabama  (writes  our  informant),  has  con- 
tributed from  his  own  purse  $25,000  for  a  similar  purpose.  He 
himself  is  coming  out  to  the  Territory  in  March  with  300  Ala- 
bamians,  who  will  settle  in  Kansas,  cast  their  votes  to  make  her 
a  slave  State,  and,  if  necessary,  handle  their  rifles  in  the  saraa 
cause,  a  procedure,  by  the  way,  which  we  deprecate  exceedingly. 

Apropos  to  possible  Kansas  Aid  Emigration  Societies  in  the 
South,  we  have  made  the  following  extract  from  Col.  Buford's 
address  to  "  Kansas  emigrants,  and  the  friends  of  the  South  gen- 
erally,1' as  we  find  it  published  in  the  Alabama  "  Spirit  of  tfo 
South"  In  selecting  these  extracts,  we  have  carefully  endeavored  to 
strike  out  all  that  was  partisan,  our  object  being  simply  to  present 
the  reader  with  a  fair  specimen  of  the  practical  organization  and 
proposed  arrangements  of  one  or  two  of  the  numerous  Pro- 
Slavery  Kansas  Emigrant  Aid  Societies,  which  are  now  forming, 
or  said  to  be  forming,  in  almost  every  city  of  the  sunny  South  : 

From  the  Alabama  Spirit  of  the  South. 
TO  KANSAS  EMIGRANTS  AND  TO  ALL  FRIENDS  OF  THE  SOUTH. 

I  had  proposed  to  start  with  my  company  of  Kansas  emigrants  on  the 
11th  of  February  next,  but  many  of  them  being  unable  to  get  ready  by 
that  time,  and  others  being  unwilling  to  go  before  spring,  and  especially 
as  I  am  advised  by  my  correspondents  that  the  Missouri  and  Kansas  rivers 


COLONEL  BUFORD'S  SCHEME. 


211 


are  already  impeded  by  ice,  I  have  determined  to  postpone  starting  till  the 
winter  breaks. 

The  emigrants  may  rendezvous  at  Eufaula,  on  the  31st  March  nexty  at- 
Columbus,  Ga.,  on  the  3d  of  April,  and  at  Montgomery,  Ala.,  on  the  5th 
of  April  next — so  that  I  can  start  from  Eufaula,  via  Columbus  and  Mont- 
gomery, collecting  on  the  way  those  I  find  at  the  different  places  of  ren- 
dezvous. The  company  will  travel  from  Montgomery  by  steamers,  via 
Mobile  and  New  Orleans,  or  else  by  railroad  via  Atlanta  to  Nashville,  and 
thence  by  steamer  to  Kansas.  I  engage  to  transport  no  baggage  except 
six  blankets,  one  gun,  one  knapsack,  and  one  frying-pan  to  each  emigrant. 
For  baggage  over  and  above  this,  the  emigrant  himself  must  engage 
transportation;  many  will  have  no  more,  and  I  must  treat  all  alike. 
While  I  thought  my  company  would  be  small,  I  expected  to  be  able  to 
take  women,  children,  and  slaves ;  but  I  find  I  must  leave  them  to  give 
place  to  men,  who  are  now  greatly  needed  in  Kansas  to  preserve  the  pub- 
lic peace  and  enforce  the  laws.  I  now  expect  over  four  hundred  men,  and 
I  will  take  no  females,  nor  slaves,  nor  minors  under  eighteen  years  of  age. 
Women  and  children  should  not  be  exposed  there  in  tents  in  the  spring, 
but  the  husbands  should  go  first  and  prepare  houses. 

The  regiment  will  be  divided  into  companies  of  forty  or  fifty  men,  under 
the  usual  military  officers,  elected  by  the  men.  Officers  have  no  emolu- 
ments, and  the  organization  is  on  the  principle  of  volunteer  militia  to  sus- 
tain the  laws;  a  majority  of  each  company  may  expel  any  member. 
Rations,  transportation,  and  fare,  that  of  soldiers  in  service.  By  way  of 
remunerating  me  for  the  privilege  of  joining  my  party,  for  subsistence 
and  transportation  to  Kansas,  and  for  furnishing  means  to  enter  his  pre- 
emption, each  emigrant  agrees  to  acquire  a  pre-emption,  and  to  pay  me, 
when  his  titles  are  perfected,  a  sum  equal  to  the  value  of  one-half  of  his 
pre-emption,  which  obligation  he  may  discharge  in  money  or  property  at  a 
fair  valuation,  at  his  own  option.  I  had  heretofore,  from  misinformation, 
supposed  pre-emptions  assignable  before  patent,  but  on  examining  the 
act  I  find  they  are  not.  Neither  does  the  donation  act  apply  to  Kansas, 
but  each  male  of  full  age,  widow  or  head  of  family  who  has  not  had  a 
pre-emption  under  the  act  of  1841  and  does  not  own  320  acres  of  land, 
and  who  has  improved  and  settled  on  it — not  to  sell  on  speculation,  but  for 
his  own  use  and  cultivation — is  entitled  to  enter  160  acres,  at  $1  25  per 
acre,  payable  any  time  before  the  land  sales. 

I  have  simplified  my  proposals  to  a  single  proposition,  as  above,  in  order 


212 


JUDGE  CATO  ON  THE  TERRITORY. 


to  be  more  easily  understood  and  to  obviate  the  many  questions  that  over- 
whelm me. 

Besides  taking  only  free  males  over  eighteen,  the  great  number  of 
applications  compels  this  further  modification,  i.  e.  : — I  will  receive  only 
those  emigrants  who  rendezvous  at  the  places  above  designated — at  either 
of  which  places,  i.  e.,  Eufaula,  Columbus,  or  Montgomery,  I  will  receive 
all  males  over  eighteen  from  any  Southern  State,  who  join  me  at  the 
time  above  designated  ;  their  rations  to  begin  from  the  time  above- 
named  for  rendezvous.  Emigrants  must  pay  their  own  expenses  to  the 
place  and  day  of  rendezvous.  Those  gentlemen  in  California  and  other 
States,  forming  companies  to  join  me,  can  very  easily  obtain  free  trans- 
portation for  their  companies  by  proper  application  to  the  directors  of  the 
railroads  over  which  they  must  pass. 

******* 

I  have  before  told  you  what  Judge"  Cato  (Judge  of  the  Territory)  says 
of  that  fertile  region.    In  his  letter  of  November  last,  he  writes : — 

"  Corn  is  plenty  at  twenty-five  cents  per  bushel.  This  is  as  fine  a 
country  as  any  on  earth  ;  the  profits  on  its  productions  far  exceed  that  in 
the  cotton  regions.  All  grain,  grass,  clover,  and  hemp  give  large  return;: 
— at  least  from  thirty  to  forty  dollars  per  acre  annually.  I  have  seen  no 
poor  lands ;  it  all  seems  richer  than  the  best  Chattahoochee  bottom,  and 
the  most  of  it  is  just  like  adjoining  Missouri  lands  that  now  sell  at  twenty 
to  fifty  dollars  per  acre.  The  estimated  average  of  the  corn  is  one  hun- 
dred bushels  per  acre,  and  six  tons  hemp  per  hand,  worth  $140  per  ton.  [ 
can  give  no  idea  of  the  beauty  and  fertility  of  the  soil  of  the  country. 
Good  wells  can  be  obtained  anywhere,  and  running  streams  are  frequent." 

Dr.  Walker,  a  long  resident  of  its  borders,  and  of  high  character  and 
intelligence,  says : 

"As  far  as  health,  climate,  and  profits  of  labor  are  concerned,  Kansas  ii 
better  than  any  part  of  the  Union.  There  is  no  country  where  a  man  can 
be  more  independent,  and  make  his  bread  and  meat  with  less  capital,  tnan 
here ;  ten  or  twelve  furrows  will  make  ten  barrels  of  corn  to  the  acre. 
One  thousand  pounds  hemp  per  acre  is  a  common  crop.  There  are  swarms 
of  cattle  and  good  markets  for  everything." 

Another  distinguished  resident  of  Western  Missouri,  in  his  letter  of  the 
3tHh  December  to  me,  says : 

"  Planters  are  making  twice  the  money  per  hand  that  they  are  in  any 
other  part  of  the  Union.    One  hand  will  raise  five  tons  of  hemp,  and  tins 


RELIGIOUS  AND  UNEXCEPTIONABLE. 


213 


don't  interfere  with  the  corn,  wheat,  and  oat  crop ;  planters  have  no  sup- 
plies to  purchase,  but  everything  to  sell.  A  near  neighbor  last  year,  with 
fourteen  hands,  men,  women,  and  boys,  averaged  eight  hundred  and 
thirty-six  dollars  per  hand — negro  fellows,  field  hands,  hire  for  $300  per 
annum — mechanics  $600 ;  white  men  $25  per  month ;  any  number  of 
young  men  iu  the  spring  can  find  ready  employment  at  that  price,  and 
then  they  have  other  advantages." 

Kansas  is  the  starting  point  for  California,  Oregon,  Utah,  and  New 
Mexico — thousands  of  wagons  leave  every  spring ;  they  carry  three  mil- 
lions of  goods  per  annum  to  New  Mexico,  besides  immense  government 
supplies  to  pay  Indians  and  sustain  our  military  posts,  &c. 

Let  every  one  wishing  to  go  urge  his  neighbors  to  hold  meetings  who 
will  appoint  agents  to  solicit  every  man's  contribution,  either  in  money  or 
note,  payable  after  the  emigrants  are  taken  out.  Contributions  must  not 
be  to  individual  members,  but  for  the  common  benefit.  I  could  by  the 
last  of  March  raise  five  thousand  men,  if  the  contributions  reached,  say 
$10  per  head — for  that  would  enable  me  to  furnish  all  with  their  military 
and  agricultural  outfit. 

I  am  asked,  "What  military  and  other  service  do  I  require?"  None, 
except  that  when  he  gets  to  Kansas,  the  emigrant  shall  begin  some  honest 
employment  for  a  living — if  it  be  working  on  his  claim — that  will  give 
him  credit  to  buy  bread  on.  On  his  way  there  he  is  expected  to  be 
orderly  and  temperate,  to  attend  the  reading  of  the  Scripture  and  prayer, 
night  and  morning,  learn  to  fear  God,  to  be  charitable  to  our  enemies, 
gentle  with  females  and  those  in  our  power,  merciful  to  slaves  and  beasts, 
and  just  to  all  men. 

All  who  intend  to  go,  will  please  write  me  immediately. 

W.  P.  Belcher,  Esq.,  Abbeville  C.  H.,  S.  C,  and  Capt.  E.  B.  Bell, 
Graniteville,  Edgefield,  S.  C,  I  understand,  are  raising  companies  to  join  me. 
They,  doubtless,  can  get  free  transportation  for  them  to  Columbus,  Ga., 
and  Carolina  emigrants  might  do  well  to  come  with  one  of  them. 

All  editors  friendly  to  the  enterprise,  it  is  hoped,  will  copy  this  address 
in  full. 

J.  BUFORD. 

Eufatjla.,  Ala.,  Jan.  19, 1856. 


2H 


E.   B.   BELL  AND   HO  FOR  KANSAS. 


The  following  comes  from  E.  B.  Bell,  Esq.,  of  South  Caro- 
lina ;  we  have  taken  the  liberty  of  treating  Mr.  Bell's  letter  in 
the  same  manner  as  that  of  his  predecessor,  by  extracting  its 
political  pepper — for,  with  all  due  deference  to  these  gentlemen, 
we  do  not  intend  in  this,  our  Kansas  war,  to  permit  any  one  to 
meddle  with  the  spice  box  but  ourself.  And  if  we  cannot  sue- 
ceed  in  basting  both  sides  to  their  entire  satisfaction  ere  we  cry, 
"  Hold,  enough,"  we  will  invite  all  parties  coucerned  to  proceed 
forthwith  to  the  plains  of  Kansas,  a  most  unbounded  battle 
field,  and  there  fight  out  the  quarrel  with  Sharpe's  rifles  and 
Bowie  knifes  if  they  please,  while  we  stand  by,  to  see  the  fight. 

From  the  Edgefield  (S.  C.)  Advertiser. 
HO  !   FOR  KANSAS. 

At  the  solicitation  of  many  friends,  I  will  commence  the  organization  of 
a  company  of  one  hundred  men  to  proceed  to  Kansas  about  the  last  of 
March. 

This  pioneer  band  needs  the  aid  of  our  moneyed  citizens.  They  go  to 
a  far-off  country  for  the  purpose  of  securing  homes,  and  at  the  same  time 
to  defend  Southern  institutions.  They  appeal  to  their  native  State  for  aid, 
with  the  hope  that  their  appeal  will  not  be  in  vain. 

It  is  impossible  that  the  people  of  South  Carolina  can  hear  without 
emotion  the  news  which  daily  comes  to  us  from  Kansas. 

******* 

We  trust  that  these  questions  may  be  answered  in  a  worthy  and  liberal 
manner.  Let  patriotism,  State  pride,  and  Southern  spirit  be  expressed  in 
some  suitable,  practical  form  of  aid  for  Kansas. 

E.  B.  Bell 

Were  further  testimony  necessary  of  there  being  some  reality 
in  this  action  on  the  part  of  the  South,  it  might  be  added  from 
Georgia,  Mississippi,  and  other  slaveholding  States — for  from 
the  dark  forests  of  Kentucky,  as  well  as  from  the  rice-fields  of 
the  sunny  South,  comes  up  the  cry,  "  Hurrah  for  Kansas  ! 


A  SLIGHT  MISTAKE. 


215 


To  change  the  subject — Hunters  just  in  from  the  plains  report 
buffalo  in  great  abundance.  They  came  in  this  fall  to  within 
fifteen  miles  of  Council  Grove  ;  this  is  nearer  than  they  have 
come  for  years.  A  party  of  men  arrived  here,  or  in  Indepen- 
dence, some  ten  days  ago,  with  four  wagons  loaded  down  with 
their  meat.  Would  it  not  be  a  good  speculation  for  some  enter 
prising  fellow — a  Yankee,  of  course — to  come  to  the  Territory 
and  go  into  the  buffalo  butchering  business  ? 

And  yet  another  change  :  Editors  make  mistakes  sometimes 
both  in  and  out  of  Kansas — here  is  a  specimen  ;  we  clip  our 
text  from  the  "  Herald  of  Freedom,"  Dec.  15  : 

Major  Clarke,  Pottawatomie  Agent,  reinforced  the  mob  at  Lecompton 
yesterday,  with  a  party  of  Indians.  As  this  party  passed  through 
Topeka  they  boasted  that  they  would  not  return  without  a  scalp — one  on 
each  shoulder. 

Clarke  attempted  last  evening  to  shoot  a  Free  State  man,  but  the  ball 
p  assed  through  the  leg  of  one  of  his  own  friends,  shattering  it  very  much, 
rendering  it  quite  probable  that  it  will  have  to  be  amputated. 

The  real  facts  of  this  affair — which  was,  after  all,  what  an 
Irishman  would  call,  "just  a  thrifling  mistake,  and  divil  a  bit 
more'' — were,  as  we  have  received  them  from  Major  Clarke,  the 
gentleman  alluded  to  in  the  foregoing  paragraph,  substantially 
as  follows, — 

Major  George  W.  Clarke,  United  States  Indian  Agent  for  the  Pottawa- 
tomies,  being  in  the  Indian  Reservation,  and  learning  that  the  country 
•-hrough  which  he  was  about  to  travel,  with  a  large  amount  of  public  funds, 
x&s  filled  with  armed  and  incendiary  parties,  adopted  the  precaution  of 
wringing  with  him  an  escort  composed  of  employees  of  his  agency,  among 
vhom  were  five  Pottawatomies,  whom  he  sent  back  the  next  day,  and  who 
lid  not  participate  in  any  manner  in  the  territorial  difficulties.  Upon 
eturuing  to  his  residence,  near  Lecompton — having  in  the  meantime  left 
ua  escort  at  that  place,  distant  by  some  two  and  a-half  miles — he  found 
us  family  in  great  alarm  from  a  threatened  attack  to  be  made  upon  his 


216 


SHOOTING  THE   WRONG  MAN. 


house  that  night.  In  the  course  of  the  evening,  and  at  an  early  hour,  hf 
was  aroused  by  the  screams  of  his  family,  who  were  alarmed  by  one  of  its 
members,  who  came  running  in,  and  stated  that  the  house  was  attacked  b^ 
an  armed  party,  and  that  the  assailants  were  already  in  the  yard.  Majo; 
Clarke  seized  a  loaded  fowling-piece  which  happened  to  be  standing  in  th( 
hall,  ran  out  of  the  back  door,  turned  a  corner  of  the  house — it  being  von 
dark  at  the  time.  Upon  doing  so  he  perceived  a  number  of  men  jus 
entering  the  front  door.  Fully  believing  that  a  set  of  desperadoes  wen 
about  carrying  out  their  blood-thirsty  intentions — in  accordance  with  thi 
repeated  threats  which  had  even  upon  that  very  day  been  made  by  certaii 
individuals  of  the  Free  State  party,  to  the  effect  that  they  would  shoo 
Major  Clarke,  he  did  not  hail,  but  hastily  fired;  the  piece  was  loaded  witl 
small  bird  shot  (not  "  ball,"  as  the  "  Herald  of  Freedom  "  states.)  The  loa. 
most  unfortunately  entered  the  leg  of  one  of  the  men,  who  proved  to  bJ 
one  of  a  party  of  Major  Clarke's  neighbors,  who  had  come  at  Mrs.  Clarke' 
request  to  assist  in  protecting  her  house  against  the  violence  with  which  i 
had  been  threatened  by  a  Free  State  mob.  After  some  moments  of  confusioi 
an  explanation  was  made,  and  the  injured  man  was  carried  into  the  house 
where  his  wounds  were  as  well  cared  for  as  circumstances  would  pennil 
At  his  request,  Major  Clarke  then  carried  the  victim  of  this  sad  acciden 
home  in  his  (Major  Clarke's)  carriage.  The  gentleman  injured  (Mi 
Bolder)  is  now  rapidly  recovering,  and  is  at  present  able  to  walk  about 
and,  as  Major  Clarke  is  most  happy  to  declare,  stands  in  no  danger  of  beioj 
called  upon  to  submit  to  an  amputation. 


Nothing  like  having  both  sides  of  a  story,  is  there  ? 


AN  ODD  FISH. 


211 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

LIFE  AT  THE  MISSION. 

December  29th — morning.  At  Shawnee  Mission  still.  The 
weather  (and  why  shouldn't  we  quote  the  weather  as  well  as 
3rofessor  E.  Meriam  or  any  other  warmly-housed  philosopher)^ 
las  got  into  a  "  cold  circle  "  in  these  regions  just  now,  and  if 
ou  should  ask  us  when  it's  going  to  get  out,  we  could  but  reply 
n  the  words  of  an  eccentric  lieutenant  of  artillery — a  musical 
□an,  and  odd  fish  generally — who  once  informed  his  tailor,  who 
eemed  over  anxious  about  "that  little  bill  of  his,"  that  "he 
wouldn't  pay  it  then,  and  the  Lord  in  his  infinite  mercy  ODly 
new  when  he  could,'-  and  it's  just  so  with  this  Kansas  cold 
weather.  But  we  would  have  you  to  understand  that  we  shall, 
/bile  it  lasts,  warm  our  indignation  at  its  continuance,  and  thus 
erify  the  old  adage  about  its  being  "  a  very  cold  breeze  which 
'lows  nobody  any  good."  But  it  is  biting,  though,  m  sober  ear- 
est,  cold  enough,  in  fact,  to  freeze  the  Free  State  question  and 
hereby  make  Kansas  respectable  in  spite  of  herself. 

Reports  from  Lawrence  say  that  "  the  enemy "  are  still 
ntrenching  themselves — a  waste  of  labor — if  it  be  true  ;  do 
iey  fancy  that  the  "  Border  Ruffians"  are  going  to  enter  upon 

campaign,  even  with  their  "  sumraum  bo?ium" — a  fight  with 
le  Abolitionists  as  an  incentive  in  such  a  temperature  as  this  ? 
Vhy,  the  Missouri  army  of  invasion  would  be  out  of  necessa- 
es  ere  it  had  marched  twenty  miles  ;  for  all  the  whisky  in 

10 


218 


THE   PRELIMINARY  HORN. 


"  Pukedom  "  would  not  last  the  Pro-Slavery  forces — with  the 
mercury  below  zero — for  even  a  single  day.  No,  Free  Soilism 
may  bless  its  favoring  stars,  for  it  may  now  exclaim  with  Nicho- 
las (late  of  all  the  Russias),  "  Have  we  not  Generals  January 
and  February  to  fight  our  battles  ?"  and  Brigadier  Jack  Frctet 
too,  with  his  rimy  beard  and  icy  armor  of  proof?  Pooh! 
niggers  and  Pro-Slavery  Jieu  can't  stand  such  a  climate  as 
this. 

But  we  are  weary  of  this  hum-drum  monotony — our  mission 
life  don't  suit  us — as  a  specimen  which  we  will  give  you  pre- 
sently shall  most  abundantly  prove.  So,  blow  high — blow  low 
•—come  ice,  or  hail,  or  snow — we  take  the  Lawrence  road  to-mor- 
row, where  we  shall  both  see  and  hear  for  ourself.  We  are 
therefore  determined  and  shall  start  for  the  late  "  seat  of  war," 
from  whence,  if  we  escape  the  Abolitionists,  and  be  not  congealed 
upon  the  road,  the  world  in  general  may  expect  to  hear  from  ne 
within  eight- and-forty  hours  from  this  present  writing. 

But  we  promised  the  reader  a  sample  of  the  half-dozen  dreary 
days  which  we  spent  at  Shawnee  Mission.  So  let  us  shorter 
our  style  and  write  it  up  in  brief. 

Morning  at  the  Mission. — Six  o'clock,  and  the  mercury  twc 
dozen  degrees  below  zero.  Scene. — A  large  double-beddec 
room,  with  ill-made  windows,  a  badly-hung  door,  and  not  ever, 
a  spark  in  the  fire-place,  its  sole  tenant  being  "  Our  Corres 
pondent,"  just  then  in  bed,  the  tip  of  his  intellectual  nose,  of 
whose  existence  he  has  had  serious  doubts  for  the  last  half-hour 
being  the  only  feature  visible.  First,  breakfast-bell  rings  vio 
lently — no,  it  don't— but  Nigger  Bill  blows  the  preliminary 
horn,  which  in  this  instance  comes  to  the  same  thing.  "  Ou 
Correspondent"  is  reminded  of  Tennyson's  "  Bugle  Song,"  whicl 
-ie  proceeds  to  quote,  with  a  difference,  as  follows  : — 


"  Blow,  bugle,  blow — the  kitchen-maid's  replying, 
And  answer  echoes,  answer — frying— frying— frying. 


MAKING  AN  EFFORT. 


219 


"  Our  Correspondent 99  meditates.  Breakfast  is  a  necessity  not 
to  be  had  at  Shawnee  Mission  after  eight  o'clock,  a.  m.,  but 
the  road  to  that  necessity  lies  through  getting  up,  and  getting 
up  with  the  mercury  down,  is  a  fact  of  the  stubbornest  kind,  a 
very  jackass  of  a  fact.  "Our  Correspondent"  continues  to 
reflect,  and  finally  extends  one  leg  outside  of  the  covering  to  act 
as  a  feeling  thermometer,  but  brings  it  back  again  hastily,  for 
the  leg  doesn't  like  it  ;  it  might  have  suffered  more,  had  not 
"  Our  Correspondent,"  like  a  prudent  man,  emulated  the  example 
of 

"  Diddle,  diddle,  dumpling,  my  son  John," 

by  literally  "  going  to  bed  with  his  breeches  on  ;"  for  if  "  misery 
makes  strange  bed-fellows,"  there  is  no  reason  why  it  should  not 
suggest  strange  bed-clothes — particularly  where  Mackinaws  are 
scarce — which  we  regret  to  say  is  the  case  at  Shawnee  Mission. 
But,  to  return,  we — for  "Our  Correspondent"  takes  up  too 
much  space — had  gotten  our  pedal  extremity  into  bed  again, 
and  were  once  more  resolving  ourself  into  a  committee  of  ways 
and  means  when,  like  a  knell,  we  heard  the 

*  Tintinnabulations  that  so  shiveringly  swelled 
Of  the  bell,  the  breakfast  bell, 
Ringing  out  above  our  head." 

The  foregoing  is  from  Poe's  "  Song  of  the  Bells,"  we  believe, 
but  we're  not  certain  as  to  the  accuracy  of  the  quotation.'  And 
the  signal  had  its  effect,  for  it  was  the  second  and  "  last  time  of 
asking."  We  "made  an  effort" — even  Mrs.  Dombey  would 
have  "  made  an  effort,"  under  like  circumstances — so  we  deter- 
mined to  get  up,  aud  accordingly  protruded  our  legs  from 
their,  comparatively  speaking,  comfortable  interior  of  covering  ; 
but  don't  be  alarmed,  fair  reader,  for  remember  they  had 
breeches  on  them  ;  our  body  followed — we  made  a  desperate 


220 


THE  EASTERN  MAIL. 


jump — and  then  landed  in  the  middle  of  one  of  the  very  "  cold- 
est circles  "  off  of  Brooklyn  Heights. 

As  we  were  already  dressed,  with  the  exception  of  a  coat  and 
a  pair  of  half  frozen  boots,  it  required  only  a  shake  or  two — a 
la  Newfoundland  dog — to  make  our  toilet,  but  our  ablutions 
were  of  the  scantiest  ;  for  the  bathing  conveniences — a  tin 
wash-basin  and  pitcher — proved  themselves  to  be  a  practical 
•commentary  upon  Sam  Weller's  suggestion  of 

"  Werry  delightful  climate  for  them  as  is  well  wropped 
up,  as  the  polar  bear  remarked,  when  he  vent  a  skatin'  vith 
his  intimate  friend— for  water  in  the  hand-basin  is  a  mask  o'  ice, 
sir." 

We  were,  therefore,  compelled  to  sacrifice  that  virtue,  which 
ranks  "  next  to  godliness,"  at  least,  for  the  present ;  and  then, 
with  a  heavy  worsted  comforter  bound  round  our  neck,  ran  at 
top  speed  through  the  snow-drifted  hall,  and  from  thence  into 
the  long  dining-room,  where  we  took  our  place  upon  a  wooden 
bench,  with  a  huge  tin  coffee-pot,  one  of  a  long  and  illustrious 
line  of  tin  coffee-pots  ;  ranged  at  regular  intervals  upon  the 
board,  for  a  vis  a  vis,  and  forty  young  Indians,  besides  a  suffi- 
ciency of  "  white  folks,'"  by  way  of  company.  Then  came  a 
Western  breakfast,  and  then  we  made  a  bolt  for  the  Executive 
office,  situated  in  another  building,  which  we  reached  by  a  half 
beaten  path  through  the  piled  up  snow,  where  we  passed  our 
time  between  writing  and  getting  "exclusive  information"  from 
Governor  Shannon,  with  an  occasional  visit  to  the  stove  to  thaw 
out  the  benumbed  fingers,  which  could  scarcely  hold  the  pen, 
until  the  somewhat  primitive  hour  of  noon  brought  us  to  our 
dinner,  and  another  journey  through  the  snow  ;  then  came  the 
afternoon  with  its  continuation  of  our  literary  labors,  varied, 
perhaps,  by  the  arrival  of  some  chance  visitor  with  news,  or  it 
may  be,  by  Woodson's  bringing  in  the  Eastern  mail  from  the 
Westport  post-office,  when  Kansas  items  were  extracted  and 


A  KANSAS  NIGHT-MARE. 


221 


read  over,  and  Free  State  editors  with  Abolitionist  proclivities 
"  handled  without  gloves,"  by^the  Governor  and  his  suite,  until 
the  supper-bell  put  an  end  to  the  discussion.  As  for  the  eve- 
ning, it  was  but  a  repetition  of  the  afternoon,  prolonged  by  our 
scribbling  into  two  or  three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  when  we 
once  more  ploughed  through  the  snow,  on  our  way  *to  the  main 
building,  in  which  we  would  seek  out  our  icy,  comfortless  cham- 
ber, and  then  (all  accoutered  as  we  were)  scramble  into  bed, 
where  it  was  often  daybreak  before  we  had  grown  sufficiently' 
warm  to  slumber,  and  even  then,  our  over-tasked  brain  would 
be  ridden,  as  by  a  nightmare,  with  Kansas  politics,  and  Kansas 
news,  and  Kansas  questions  in  general,  till,  in  our  spectre-haunted 
dreams,  Free  Stateism  took  the  form  of  a  long-limbed,  red-head- 
ed negro,  in  a  shocking  beaver,  shambling  legs,  and  dirty  white 
coat ;  while  Pro-Slavery  shook  his  fist  at  the  apparition  from 
the  other  side  of  our  couch,  in  the  shape  of  a  ferocious  Border- 
Ruffian,  with  a  slave  whip  in  one  hand,  and  a  revolver  in  the 
other,  until,  as  somebody  says,  we  would  awake,  and  swear  a 
prayer  or  two,  and  then  fall  to  our  sleep  again. 

"All  of  which,"  to  quote  from  the  secretaries,  "is  respect- 
fully submitted"  as  a  faint  outline  of  our  daily  routine  of  life — if 
such  an  existence  can  be  called  living — at  the  Methodist  Shawnee 
Mission. 

December  29,  Evening. — At  "old  man  Harris's"  most  uncom- 
fortable "  hotel,"  in  Westport.  We  are  once  more  settled  in 
our  old  chamber,  which  has,  at  present,  an  additional  tenant,  in 
the  person  of  Major  Clarke,  the  Pottawatomie  Indian  Agent, 
elsewhere  alluded  to.  Now,  Major  Clarke,  differing  opinions  to 
the  contrary  notwithstanding,  is,  to  our  thinking,  a  fat,  warm- 
hearted, jovial  little  man  ;  and  so  we  like  Clarke,  and  "  don't 
kear "  who  knows  it  ;  and  our  reason  for  fancying  him  is  just 
this  (and  a  very  Irish  one  at  that)  there's  a  deal  of  fun  in  him. 
He  has  shot  one  or  two  men  it  is  true  ;  has  fought  a  brace  of 


222 


OUR  FUXNT  LITTLE  FRIEND. 


duels,  and  it  may  be  more  ;  but  we  can't  help  liking  him,  for,  as 

we  have  already  said,  he  has 

"  A  marvellous  humor  of  his  own." 

So  we  shall  journey  on  to  Kansas  to-morrow  in  company,  and 
while  together,  be  comrades  in  all  good  fellowship. 

Evening. — Major  Clarke  and  myself  have  just  made  ourselves 
as  comfortable  as  circumstances  will  permit,  by  visiting  the* 
rooms  of  our  fellow-lodgers,  where  we  have  quietly  emptied  every 
wood  box,  and  removed  their  contents  to  our  own  apartment, 
thereby  providing  ourselves  with  a  stock  of  fuel  for  this  night's 
consumption.  A  somewhat  selfish  but  very  prudent  move,  sug- 
gested by  the  fact  that,  in  "  old  man  Harris's  "  establishment,  a 
nigger  is  not  to  be  had,  even  when  stimulated  by  a  dime,  unless, 
indeed,  you  break  the  darkey's  head  daily  ;  and  when  ycu  do 
get  a  servant,  it's  ten  to  one  that  he  cuts  the  fire-wood  id 
inches  too  short  for  your  stove,  and  then  you  may  freeze  in  bed, 
or  out,  as  you  prefer  ;  or,  if  you  don't  know  the  ways  of  the 
house,  spend  your  time  and  breath  in  shouting  for  some  sable 
functionary,  who  grows  stone  deaf,  on  principle,  after  nine 
o'clock,  P.M. 


A  VISIT  FROM  COLEMAN. 


223 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

coleman's  narrative. 

We  have  a  visitor  in  our  chamber  as  we  write — Mister — every- 
body is  Mister  in  the  democratic  Far  West — Franklin  M.  Cole- 
man, who  has  gained  a  Kansas,  and  perhaps  even  outside  noto- 
riety from  having  been  "  the  murderer — so  say  the  Free  State 
prints — of  Dow. 

And  we  are  about  to  present  the  reader  with  a  narrative  of  the 
circumstances  attending  his  unfortunate  rencounter  with  the 
deceased,  together  with  the  difficulties  which  led  to  it,  as  we 
have  taken  the  story  down  from  Coleman's  own  lips. 

We  do  this  for  two  reasons  ;  in  the  first  place,  the  killing  of 
Dow  (a  Free  State  man)  seems  to  be  generally  referred  to  and 
decided  upon  as  one  of  the  initial — if  not  the  initial  point  of  the 
recent  Kansas  difficulties.  And  in  the  second  place,  this  matter 
has  been  so  garbled,  both  in  the  communications  of  interested 
letter-writers,  and  in  the  paragraphs  of  a  one-sided  local  press, 
that  we  feel  it  is  but  just  to  give  to  the  world,  for  the  first  time, 
the  statement  of  the  principal  actor  in  this  most  deplorable 
tragedy.    It  runs  thus  : 

franklin  m.  coleman's  narrative. 

"I  am  a  native  of  Brook  County  in  Virginia.  I  left  that 
State  in  1849,  and  removed  to  Louisa  County  Iowa,  from 
whence  I  emigrated  to  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  in  April,  1854.  Here 


224 


COLEMAN  SETTLES  AT  HICKORY  POINT. 


I  kept  the  Union  Hotel  until  September  of  last  year.  From  this 
place  I  moved  with  my  family,  consisting  of  a  wife  and  child  (a 
boy  of  six  years  old),  to  Hickory  Point,  on  the  Santa  Fe  trail, 
distant  some  ten  miles  from  Lawrence,  K.  T. 

"  At  this  time,  the  greater  part  of  the  land  near  Hickory  Point 
was  held  by  three  Indianians,  who  occupied,  partly  by  their  own 
claims,  but  mostly  as  the  representatives  of  certain  friends  of 
theirs  in  Indiana,  who,  though  non-residents,  claimed  title  by  them 
as  their  proxies.  Time  passed  on,  and  the  absentee  claimants  ne- 
glected to  comply  with  the  requisitions  of  the  '  Squatter  Laws/ 
thereby  forfeiting  their  claims.  Three  of  their  claims  were 
accordingly  taken  by  Missourians,  who  learned  that  they  were 
lying  vacant,  in  November  of  1854.  Some  few  days  after  these 
claims  had  been  entered  upon,  the  absentee  Indianian  claimants 
arrived.  This  led  to  one  of  the  'jumped  claims'  being  referred 
to  arbitration — the  arbitrators  being  twelve  in  number,  a  majo- 
rity of  whom  belonged  to  the  Free  State  party.  It  was  settled 
by  these  in  favor  of  the  Missourians.  On  the  strength  of  this 
decision,  in  partnership  with  John  M.  Banks,  a  Free  State  man, 
I  'jumped  a  claim'  held  by  a  man  named  Frasier,  a  non-resident 
of  Kansas.  We  notified  this  person  that  we  had  'jumped  his 
claim,'  and  as  we  did  not  wish  to  take  any  undue  advantage  of 
him,  would  give  it  up  if  he  could  show  any  legal  right  to  the 
land  in  question.  We  afterwards  discovered  that  Frasier  had 
sold  this  claim  to  one  Jacob  Branson,  then  residing  in  Missouri 
but  formerly  from  Indiana.  This  we  learned  from  Branson  him- 
self, who  came  out  forthwith  to  Hickory  Point  (I  had  known 
Branson  while  iu  Kansas  City),  I  remarked  to  Branson  that  I 
had  taken  the  Frasier  claim  ;  he  replied  :  '  I  have  bought  that 
claim  from  Frasier,  and  paid  him  fifty  dollars  for  it,  and  I  intend 
to  have  it.'  I  then  said  to  Branson,  that  the  claim  in  question 
was  forfeited  by  Frasier's  non-compliance  with  '  the  Squatter 
Laws,'  and  that  I  was  willing  to  submit  it  to  arbitration.  This 


COLEMAN  QUARRELS  WITH  BRANSON.  225 

he  refused,  stating  that  if  the  laws  took  a  man's  claim  away  he 
would  defend  himself  and  have  his  claim,  or  '  die  right  where  he 
was.'  I  then  closed  our  interview  by  telling  him  that  it  was  not 
worth  our  while  to  talk  about  it.  On  the  morning  following  this 
conversation,  Branson  came  (during  my  absence),  to  my  house, 
with  a  wagon-load  of  household  stuff,  accompanied  by  Louis 
Farley,  a  Free  State  man  from  Indiana — Mr.  Banks  and  a 
young  man  named  Graves — a  Free-soiler — were  the  only  men 
at  my  house  on  the  occasion  of  Branson's  visit.  Branson  and 
his  companion  tried  to  force  his  property  into  my  dwelling. 
Banks  requested  them  to  let  their  goods  stand  until  they  could 
send  for  me  ;  he  did  so,  and  I  came  immediately.  Upon  enter- 
ing my  house,  Branson  and  Farley  being  within,  I  reminded 
Branson  that  he  had  said  that  '  he  would  have  my  claim  or  die 
upon  it.'  I  then  drew  a  single-barrelled  pistol  from  under  the 
head  of  the  bed  and  told  him  that  I  should  defend  myself,  and 
if  he  was  determined  to  settle  the  matter  in  that  way,  I  was  pre- 
pared to  do  so.  Farley  then  attempted  to  mediate  between  us. 
During  this  conversation,  Branson  kept  his  hand  upon  an 
'Allen's  revolver'  which  he  had  with  him  in  his  pocket,  but 
made  no  motion  to  draw  the  weapon,  nor  did  I  threaten  him 
with  my  pistol,  further  than  to  exhibit  it  as  a  proof  of  my  inten- 
tion to  protect  myself.  I  cannot  remember  the  precise  date  of 
this  difficulty;  I  think  it  occurred  in  November,  1854.  Branson 
and  myself  then  agreed  to  compromise  the  matter  by  submitting 
our  difficulties  to  an  arbitration.  This  was  accordingly  done, 
and  the  arbitrators,  twelve  in  number,  and  mostly  Pro-Slavery 
men,  decided  against  my  partner  and  myself,  insomuch,  that 
instead  of  allowing  our  claim  to  the  whole  Frasier  tract,  amount- 
ing to  two  hundred  and  forty  acres,  they  awarded  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  to  Branson  as  his  proportion.  Branson  then 
promised,  in  the  presence  of  the  arbitrators,  to  measure  off  his 
share.    But  this  he  subsequently  refused  to  do.    Banks  and 

10* 


226 


white's  cabin  burnt. 


myself  then  reminded  him  of  his  agreement  to  submit  to  the 
decision  of  the  arbitrators,  adding  that  we  desired  peace.  He 
said  that  he  did  not  crave  our  friendship,  and  that  we  should 
never  have  a  single  foot  of  the  lumber  which  grew  upon  the 
greater  part  of  the  claim.  He  then  stated  that  he  had  measured 
the  entire  '  Frasier  claim/  with  one  of  his  neighbors,  and  foa  td 
it  to  contain  but  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres — called  us  a  set 
of  base  thieves,  who  had  swindled  him  out  of  his  rights,  and  with 
whom  he  wished  to  have  no  intercourse,  etc.  We  then  parted 
for  our  several  homes. 

"Banks,  Graves,  and  myself  then  measured  off  the  claim, 
allotting  to  Branson  his  full  proportion  (all  timber  land)  of  160 
acres,  and  marking  the  boundary  line  which  divided  our  claim. 
This  division  was  never  accepted  by  Branson.  He  still  claimed 
the  whole  tract.  Branson  then  turned  his  attention  to  strength- 
ening the  Free  State  party — to  which  he  himself  belonged — h 
the  vicinity  of  Hickory  Point.  This  he  did  by  encouraging 
Free  State  men  to  settle  about  him,  giving  them  timber  from 
his  land,  and  informing  them  of  vacant  claims.  In  pursuance 
of  this  object,  he  and  his  friends  invited  a  man  named  Dow,  an 
Ohioan  and  Abolitionist,  to  occupy  a  claim  adjoining  my  own. 
This  claim  rightly  belonged  to  one  William  White,  of  Westport, 
Mo.,  a  Pro-Slavery  man,  who  had  made  some  improvements  on 
it,  and  therefore  held  it  under  the  '  Squatter  Laws.'  The 
'  improvement '  was  a  log-cabin,  which  was  burnt  down  by  the 
Free  State  party,  on  or  about  the  day  of  Dow's  arrival  at 
Hickory  Point.  Dow  then  entered  upon  White's  claim  and 
commenced  building.  Upon  this,  twelve  men  of  the  Pro-Slavery 
party  at  Hickory  Point,  I  being  one  of  their  number,  waited 
upon  Dow,  to  inquire  into  the  'jumping'  of  White's  claim,  and 
the  burning  of  his  house.  We  accused  Dow  of  being  accessory 
to  the  act.  He  asserted  his  innocence  as  regarded  the  destruc- 
tion of  White's  cabin.    Upon  being  asked  if  he  was  not  aware 


BRANSON  AND   DOW   THREATEN  COLEMAN. 


227 


of  the  intention  of  the  Free  State  people  to  destroy  it,  he 
answered  that  that  was  his  business,  and  none  of  ours.  I  then 
observed  to  him,  that  as  my  claim  adjoined  his,  I  would  be  his 
nearest  neighbor,  and  should  be  very  sorry  to  suspect  that  the 
man  who  lived  next  to  me  could  be  guilty  of  such  an  act,  but  as 
he  had  affirmed  his  innocence,  as  regarded  the  burning  of  White's 
house,  I  would  (if  it  proved  to  be  true),  be  a  kind  neighbor  to 
him,  and  added  that  he  was  welcome  to  visit  at  my  house  if  he 
wished  to  come.  He  thanked  me,  and  we  parted.  These 
occurrences  took  place  during  the  winter  of  1854  and  '55,  and 
from  this  date  up  to  the  very  day  on  which  I  killed  Dow,  I  met 
him  on  several  occasions,  and  always  in  a  friendly  manner, 
although  I  had  at  various  times  heard  of-  his  threatening  me. 

"In  July  or  August  of  1855,  a  branch  of  the  Kansas  Free 
State  secret  military  organization  was  established  among  "the 
Free  State  settlers  around  Hickory  Point.  Brauson  being 
their  commander.  Not  long  after  this,  I  learned  that  he  had  not 
only  threatened  to  use  this  force  to  put  down  and  set  at  defiance 
the  Territorial  laws,  but  had  stated,  on  several  occasions,  that  he 
had  an  old  grudge  to  settle  with  me — that  he  would  like  to  meet 
me — that  I  should  not  live  in  the  Territory,  but  that  he  would 
have  his  revenge  before  I  quitted  it,  &c.  It  was  also  reported  to 
me,  some  four  days  previous  to  my  rencounter  with  Dow,  that  he 
(Dow),  had  declared  that  'he  would  beat  my  d — d  brains  out, 
if  I  went  into  the  grove  ' — on  my  own  claim — 1  to  cut  timber/ 
I  was  also  warned  by  a  Free  State  man,  -a  friend  of  mine  named 
Spar,  '  that  my  life  was  in  danger  from  the  ill  will  harbored 
against  me  by  Branson  and  Dow.' 

"  On,  or  about  the  27th  of  November,  1855,  between  11  and  12 
o'clock  a.  m.,  I  was  at  work  making  a  lime-kiln,  on  my  claim,  in 
company  with  a  young  man  named  Harvey  Moody. — Moody 
is  a  Free  State  man — I  had  been  busy  there  since  early  in  the 
morning,  as  I  had  been  for  several  days  previous.    Dow  came  to 


228 


COLEMAN  JDK1VEN   FKUM  HIS  CLAIM. 


the  place  where  we  were  working  ;  he  was  alone,  and  apparently 
unarmed.  He  quarrelled  with  me  about  my  claim — said  he 
intended  to  stop  our  working  there,  and  after  making  several 
threats  left.  I  continued  on  with  my  work.  In  a  short  time 
after  this  visit  from  Dow,  Moody  called  out  to  me,  '  Here  comes 
Branson  and  Dow.'  On  looking  up  I  saw  them  approaching, 
armed  with  Sharpe's  rifles.  Both  Moody  and  myself  were 
entirely  unarmed.  I  immediately  left  my  claim  without  waiting 
for  them  to  come  up,  for  it  was  my  belief  that  they  intended  to 
kill  me,  and  were  then  coming  upon  me  with  arms  in  their  hands 
for  that  purpose.  Moody,  being  a  Free  State  man,  remained  at 
his  work.  Moody  has  since  informed  me  that  on  coming  up  they 
ordered  him  from  the  claim,  stating  that  they  would  not  hurt 
him  1  this  time/  but  if  they  caught  him  there  again,  they  would 
do  him  an  injury  ;  they  furthermore  said,  that  they  'just  wanted 
to  see  me,  and  asked  Moody  where  I  was  ?  to  which  he  replied, 
that  '  I  had  gone  home.'  Upon  hearing  this,  Dow  took  his 
gun  and  followed  me.  Moody  states  it  as  his  belief,  that  they 
would  have  killed  me  if  I  had  stayed  for  their  coming.  From 
my  claim,  I  went  immediately  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Hargis,  a 
Pro-Slavery  man,  whose  claim  bordered  upon  my  own,  informed 
bim  of  my  being  ordered  off,  and  begged  him,  as  I  did  not  wish 
to  trespass  upon  my  neighbors,  to  come  to  my  house  that  after- 
noon and  assist  me  in  establishing  the  dividing  lines  between  his 
(Hargis)  aud  my  claim  :  this  he  promised  to  do.  I  then  armed 
myself  with  a  double-barrelled  fowling-piece,  loaded  with  buck- 
shot, intending  upon  going  back  to  my  work,  to  defend  myself 
if  again  interfered  with,  and  returned  to  Hargis's  house,  who 
had  promised  to  accompany  me,  as  above  stated,  that  afternoon, 
with  Buckley,  a  Pro-Slavery  man,  and  one  or  two  others,  to 
assist  in  establishing  the  lines  between  Hargis  and  myself.  Upon 
reaching  Hargis's  house,  Buckley  said  that  he  was  going  to  a 
whisky-store  which  stands  opposite  a  blacksmith's  shop,  on  the 


COLEMAN  ARMS  HIMSELF. 


229 


Santa  F6  trail,  and  which  was  half  a  mile  distant  from  Hargis's. 
Buckley  desired  us  not  to  wait  for  him,  as  he  would  meet  us  at 
,my  house,  and  left  accordingly.  Finding  that  my  friends  were 
detained  longer  than  I  had  anticipated,  I  concluded  to  go  out 
and  see  if  I  could  discover  anything  of  Buckley.  In  doing  so,  I 
passed  by  the  house  of  William  McKinney  ;  here  I  found  McKin- 
ney  engaged  in  building  a  chimney,  and  stopped  to  talk  with 
him  for  a  short  time.  Not  seeing  anything  of  Buckley,  I  started 
for  home,  and  had  continued  on  for  a  hundred  and  fifty  yards,  or 
thereabouts,  when  I  entered  the  Santa  Fe  trail ;  as  I  did  so,  I 
came  most  unexpectedly  upon  Dow,  who  was  walking  along  the 
road,  in  the  same  direction  as  that  in  which  I  was  going.  On 
approaching  him,  he  turned  his  head,  and  waited  for  me  to  come 
up.  He  was  unarmed,  with  the  exception  of  a  wagon-skien — a 
piece  of  iron  some  two  feet  in  length,  and  a  most  dangerous 
weapon  in  the  hands  of  so  powerful  and  determined  a  man  as 
Dow  is  represented  to  have  been. — Dow  then  entered  into  con- 
versation with  me  about  the  claim  difficulty,  and  continued  to 
use  hard  language  upon  this  subject  until  we  had  walked  together 
as  far  as  my  house,  wThich  stands  off  the  Santa  Fe  road  about 
75  yards.  We  must  have  gone  side  by  side  for  some  400  or  500 
yards.  During  this  conversation  I  urged  him  to  compromise 
the  matter,  as  I  did  not  wish  to  have  any  trouble  with  my 
neighbors.  When  we  got  opposite  to  my  dwelling,  I  moved  off 
the  road  to  go  towards  home.  Dow  walked  on  his  way  for  a 
few  paces,  and  then  turned  round  and  re-commenced  quarrelling, 
high  words  passed,  and  Dow  advanced  upon  me  with  the  wagon- 
skien,  which  he  was  carrying  in  his  hand,  raising  it  as  he  did  so, 
in  an  attitude  to  strike.  I  levelled  my  gun  as  he  came  on, 
brought  it  to  bear  upon  him,  and  pulled  the  trigger  ;  the  cap  explo- 
ded but  not  the  charge.  Dow  then  paused,  and  turned  as  if  to 
go  away.  Seeing  this,  I  put  my  gun  down  upon  the  ground,  which 
Dow  had  no  sooner  perceived  than  he  faced  towards  me,  and 


230 


COLEMAN   KILLS  DOW. 


again,  advauced  upon  me  with  the  skien,  at  the  same  time 
crying  out,  with  an  oath,  '  You've  bursted  one  cap  at 
me,  and  you'll  never  live  to  burst  another  hearing  this,  and 
believing  that  my  life  was  in  danger,  I  again  levelled  my  gun 
and  fired  upon  him,  as  he  came  rushing  on  ;  the  shot  struck  him 
(as  I  have  since  ascertained)  in  the  neck  and  breast,  and  he 
fell — dead. 

K I  did  not  go  up  to  the  body  ;  but  went  immediately  to  my 
house,  and  told  my  wife  that  I  had  killed  Dow;  that  I  had  been 
forced  into  it,  having  no  other  alternative  to  save  my  own  life. 
I  told  her  not  to  be  uneasy  about  me  ;  that  I  was  going  to  sur- 
render myself  up  to  *be  tried,  and  had  no  fears  for  the  conse- 
quences, as  my  conscience  acquitted  me  of  any  blame,  I  having 
acted  only  in  self  defence/ 

"Though  I  was  not  at  the  time  aware  of  it,  this  transaction 
was  seen  by  my  friends  Hargis  and  Moody,  and  also  by  a  man 
named  Wagoner,  a  Missourian,  who  happened  to  be  in  their 
company  at  the  time.  Wagoner  is  an  enemy  of  mine.  They 
were  then  on  their  way  to  '  kill  a  beef '  in  the  timber  not  very 
far  from  my  house,  at  which  Hargis  and  Moody  intended  (as 
before  stated),  to  stop,  as  they  passed,  and  assist  Buckley  and 
myself  in  running  the  lines  between  my  claim  and  that  of  Har- 
gis in  accordance  with  my  request. 

"  In  the  evening  several  persons  came  to  my  house,  and  advised 
me,  for  fear  of  the  Free  State  secret  military  organization — of 
which,  as  I  have  before  mentioned,  Branson,  Dow's  friend  was 
one  of  the  commanders — to  leave  the  neighborhood.  I  at  first 
declined  to  go,  stating,  as  a  reason  for  so  doing,  that  such  an 
act  might  be  construed  into  a  desire  on  my  part  to  elude  the 
officers  of  justice.  They  then  suggested  that  I  should  deliver 
myself  up  to  Governor  Shannon,  or  some  other  fit  person,  at  a 
distance  from  the  scene  of  difficulty,  where  they  believed  that 
I  would  not  only  be  in  great  personal  danger,  but  have  no 


COLEMAN  GIVES   HIMSELF  UP. 


231 


chance  to  obtain  an  impartial  hearing.  I  finally  yielded  to  their 
entreaties,  and  left  that  night  for  Shawnee  Mission,  Governor 
Shannon's  residence,  which  I  reached  upon  the  ensuing  day,  and 
immediately — in  the  temporary  absence  of  the  governor — deli- 
vered myself  up  to  S.  J.  Jones,  the  sheriff  of  Douglas  .County 
(is  which  the  killing  took  place),  who  happened  to  be  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  Mission  at  the  time  of  my  arrival.  Upon  the 
return  of  Governor  Shannon,  His  Excellency  directed  Sheriff 
Jones  to  convey  me  in  custody  to  Lecompton,  the  county  seat 
of  Douglas,  which  he  did.  On  my  arrival  there  I  was  dis- 
charged upon  giving  bail  to  the  amount  of  five  hundred  dol- 
lars, and  am  now  only  awaiting  the  assembling  of  a  court  to 
stand  my  trial." 

We  have  read  our  fair  copy  of  this  paper  over  to  Coleman, 
who  endorses  it  as  being  entirely  correct. 

The  so-called  "murderers"  statement  is  now  before  the 
reader,  nor  do  we  intend  to  add  either  note  or  comment  save 
this. 

So  far  as  we  could  judge  from  Coleman's  impartial  and  dis- 
passionate manner  while  stating  these  alleged  facts,  we  should 
say  that  he  really  believed  what  he  was  telling  us.  Whether 
his  narrative  will  or  will  not  be  sustained  by  evidence  must  be 
proven  on  his  trial  by  the  testimony  adduced.  It  will  soon  be 
settled  by  a  judicial  inquiry  ;  and,  in  the  meanwhile,  we  have 
no  disposition  to  influence  public  opinion  either  for  or  against 
the  accused. 

Coleman  is  considered  a  rather  good-looking  man,  of  "  gen- 
teel appearance,"  with  dark  hair  and  beard  ;  he  is  about  five 
feet  eleven  in  height  ;  is  called  amiable  in  his  disposition,  and 
has  a  wife  and  two  children  at  present  residing  some  four 
miles  from  Westport,  Mo.,  whither  they  have  fled  for  fear  of 
the  Free  State  party  at  Hickory  Grove. 

Governor  Shannon  informs  us  that  he  had  commissioned 


232 


COLEMAN  DECLINES  BEING  A  JUSTICE. 


Coleman  as  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  just  previous  to  the  killing 
of  Dow  ;  his  credentials,  however,  although  made  out  and 
.signed,  had  not  jet  been  forwarded  when  the  rencounter  took 
place.  Coleman  has  declined  to  receive  this  commission,  in 
accordance  with  the  suggestion  of  Governor  Shannon,  until  his 
conduct  in  killing  Dow  has  been  judicially  investigated  and 
decided  upon. 


OUR  OVER-DRESSED  COMPANION. 


233 


CHAPTER  XXIY 

FOR  LAWRENCE  DIRECT. 

Dec  30. — Morning,  at  "  old  man''  Harris's — breakfast  over, 
and  our  travelling  conveyance,  a  buggy  with  two  livery-stable 
mules— mere  rats — at  the  door.  "  Our  Correspondent"  wad- 
dles forth,  equipped  to  encounter  the  cold  weather  in  its  most 
cutting  form — that  is  to  say,  in  a  ride  across  the  snow-covered 
and  unsheltered  prairies  of  Kansas.  Let  us  give  you  an  inside 
peep  at  his  nether  integuments.  Imprimis — he  has  put  on  two 
oairs  of  woollen  socks,  ditto  of  drawers,  ditto  of  pantaloons, 
tern  two  coats,  item  an  overcoat,  item  buffalo  overshoes, 
gloves  covered  inside  and  out  with  fur,  and  a  comforter  whose 
ntricate  folds  leave  only  one  eye  visible.  As  for  the  Major, 
le  was  so  completely  enveloped  in  buckskins — not  to  mention 
mder-rigging — that  he  almost  literally  carried  his  wardrobe 
ipon  his  back  ;  indeed  he  was  over-dressed — a  fact  which  he  was 
lestined  to  prove  to  his  own  satisfaction,  as  well  as  ours,  by  a 
;umble  in  the  snow,  where  he  lay  kicking  like  a  huge  green  tur- 
;le  when  you  place  it  upon  its  back — until  we  were  enabled  to 
estrain  our  laughter  sufficiently  to  rescue  our  friend  from  a 
predicament  where  he  might  have  kicked  till  "  the  crack  of 
loom,"  had  no  person  been  at  hand  to  render  assistance.  Our 
first  halt  was  at  Shawnee  Mission,  where  Governor  Shannon 
vished  us  God-speed  and  a  happy  deliverance  ;  and  from  thence 
ve  whipped  up  our  lazy  beasts,  beguiling  the  tediousness  of  the 


234  THE  OLD  PRIEST. 

way  with  song  and  jest,  and  merry  stories  of  frontier  expe- 
riences, until  the  twilight  hour  brought  us  to  Donaldson's,  dis- 
tant from  Westport  by  eleven  miles — for  our  start  was  a  late 
one,  and  we  had  consumed  the  greater  part  of  the  day  in  our 
halt  at  the  Mission. 

Besides  the  usual  inmates  of  Donaldson's  house — who  is  him- 
self a  gruff,  and  not  particularly  prepossessing  frontiersman— 
we  found  the  remainder  of  our  own  party,  consisting  of  Doctor 
Rodrigue,  of  Lecompton  ;  his  son,  a  young  man  of  some  twenty 
years  of  age  ;  and  a  daughter,  quite  a  pretty  girl,  who,  if  we 
guess  the  young  lady's  age  correctly,  was  only  sweet  sixteen,  and 
just  about  to  encounter  the  hardships  of  a  first  trip  across  the 
Border.  There  wras  yet  another  member  of  the  Doctor's  family, 
who  merits  something  more  than  what  the  "Home  Journal'' 
used  to  call  11  mere  mention."  He  was,  if  report  is  to  be 
credited,  a  man  of  many  fortunes — a  Prussian  by  birth,  who  had 
seen  real  service  in  European  wars,  where  he  had  worn  his  epau- 
lets on  many  a  hard-fought  field  ;  he  told  us,  moreover,  that  he 
was  present  when  the  poet-soldier,  Korner,  he  of  "  the  Lyre  and 
Sword,"  received  his  death  wound,  and  assisted  at  his  burial : 
he  says  Korner  was  killed  by  a  prisoner,  who  fired  upon  him 
from  a  baggage-wagon,  with  a  musket,  which  had  been  left 
carelessly  within  his  reach. 

But  our  Prussian  had  laid  down  his  military  rank  for  ever, 
and  taken  up,  instead  (no  uncommon  change  by  the  way)  the 
vows  and  habit  of  a  Roman  Catholic  priest ;  indeed,  it  is  not 
improbable  that,  as  the  Doctor  and  his  family  were  enthusiastic 
followers  of  that  persuasion,  that  he  may  have  been  accompany- 
ing their  party  as  their  Father  confessor  and  spiritual  guide.  • 
But  we  could  not  help  thinking,  as  we  gazed  upon  those  strongly 
marked  features,  and  that  yet  powerful,  though  now  somewhat 
time-bowed  form,  that  the  priesthood  had  spoiled  a  good  dragoon, 
and  that  the  padre,  like  pious  Friar  Tuck,  might  still  handle  the 


THE  SILENT  BLESSING. 


235 


quarterstaff  quite  as  effectually  as  his  breviary.  Yet  there  was 
something  touching,  too — when  we  went  to  take  our  homely  eve- 
ning meal,  in  the  fire-lighted  apartment,  which  was  both  kitchen 
and  supper-room — in  the  attitude  of  this  war-worn  old  veteran, 
as  he  stood  for  a  moment  beside  his  chair,  while  he  bent  his 
head,  and  asked  a  silent  blessing  upon  our  food.  It  was,  in- 
deed, just  such  a  picture  as  some  of  the  grand  old  master's 
would  have  loved  to  paint.  The  man  was  a  study  in  himself ; 
and  the  rough  cabin,  with  its  yet  more  unpolished  accessories, 
just  the  surroundings  for  a  highly-finished  interior  of  the  Flem- 
ish school. 

Supper  was  over  ;  we  had  drawn  our  chairs  nearer  to  the 
open  fire-place  ;  the  winter  night  was  dark  without,  and  the 
blazing  brands  threw  a  cheerful  glow  upon  the  inmates  of  Don- 
aldson's best  sitting-room  ;  the  old  priest  had  produced  his  short 
pipe,  and  tobacco-bag,  and  was  now  smoking  placidly,  with  his 
dark  eyes  looking  so  intently  the  while  at  the  glowing  embers 
upon  the  hearth,  that  we  almost  fancied  he  must  be  reading 
some  day-dream  of  the  past  in  their -ever-changing  forms.  The 
Major  too,  had  divested  himself  of  one  or  two  courses  of  cloth- 
ing, at  least,  so  far  as  to  permit  of  his  bending  his  short,  stout 
legs  without  outside  assistance  ;  and  we,  "The  Correspondent," 
were  trying  vainly  to  get  what  is  called  a  corn-cob  pipe  to 
draw,  which,  by  the  way,  is  a  peculiarly  Western  institution, 
made  by  digging  out  the  inside  of  a  piece  of  cob,  and  then  intro- 
ducing a  hollow  reed  for  the  stem,  when  the  quick  gallop  of  a  horse's 
feet  over  the  frozen  ground,  and  a  hallo  from  without,  announced 
the  arrival  of  another  guest,  who  entered  forthwith,  in  the  per- 
son of  a  tall,  athletic,  and  thoroughly  benumbed-looking  young 
,man,  who  strode  up  to  the  fire-place,  threw  back  his  cloak,  and 
extended  his  chilled  hands  towards  the  blazing  log  heap. 

As  he  approached  more  closely  to  the  fire-place,  Major  Clarke 
glanced  at  the  new  comer,  and  with  a  "  How  are  you,  Doak  P 


236 


BAD  NEWS  FOR  THE  MAJOR. 


at  once  grasped  him  by  the  hand.  It  was  his  brother-in-law, 
who  had  left  "  House  on  the  Prairie,"  the  Major's  residence, 
that  morning,  and  had  ridden  thus  far  on  his  road  to  Wcstpo-rt, 
whither  he  was  going  to  meet  the  Major  j  to  whom  he  was  the 
bearer  of  important  letters,  containing  intelligence  of  an  alarm- 
ing and  highly  irritating  nature.  One  of  these  epistles  wts 
from  Doctor  Johnson,  of  whom  we  have  already  spoken  as  having 
been  shot  at  by  some  would-be-assassin,  on  one  or  two  occasions, 
but  without  effect.  The  other  was  from  the  Major's  wife,  with 
whom  we  had  the  pleasure  of  a  very  brief  acquaintance,  during 
our  visit  at  her  house,  which,  slight  as  it  was,  gave  us  a  very 
high  opinion  of  the  good  sense  and  true  feminine  courage  of  our 
fair  hostess. 

Doctor  Johnson's  letter,  of  which  the  Major  very  kindly  per- 
mitted us  to  make  a  copy,  reads  as  follows  ; — 

House  on  the  Prairie,  Kansas  Territory,  December  30, 1355. 

Dear  Major  : 

Rufus,  the  bearer  of  this  letter,  will  inform  you  that  matters 
are  fast  coming  to  a  desperate  conclusion  with  us — a  crisis  which  requires 
both  prompt  and  energetic  action  is  approaching. 

Your  family  are  not  safe  here  even  for  a  single  night.  Your  house  is 
watched  as  though  It  were  a  den  of  thieves.  Your  dog  has  disappeared ;  we 
presume  he  has  been  decoyed  away  and  killed  to  prevent  his  giving  an  alarm. 
One  of  your  carriage  horses  has  been  poisoned,  and,  in  addition  to  this,  an 
attempt  was  made  to  fire  your  house.  This  occurred  last  night,  between 
twelve  and  one  o'clock  a.m.  It  was  fortunate  that  we  discovered  the  fire  before 
it  was  too  late ;  we  were  but  just  in  time  to  save  the  building.  Had  it  1 
otherwise,  God  only  knows  what  would  have  become  of  your  family ;  for, 
even  supposing  that  they  had  escaped  the  flames,  they  would  have  been 
exposed  to  the  danger  of  perishing  in  the  bitter  cold  of  this  inclement 
season,  ere  they  could  have  reached  the  nearest  neighbor's  house.  (Major 
Clarke's  residence  is  three-quarters  of  a  mile  from  any  house,  and  the  mer- 
cury at  the  time  stood  at  twenty  degrees  below  zero,  and  it  would  have 
been  almost  a  miracle,  under  such  circumstances,  if  they  had  escaped  fi 
ing.)  But  to  come  to  the  point :  you  cannot  live  here  ;  it  is  risking  too 
much ;  the  very  existence  of  your  family  is  at  stake ;  your  own  life  is 


AN  ATTEMPT  TO  FIRE  CLARKE'S  DWELLING.  237 


in  imminent  danger ;  you  would  not  be  safe  here — no,  not  for  a  single  day. 
If  you  were  here  it  would  only  aggravate  the  evil.  For  God's  sake,  remove 
vour  family.  Take  them  to  Missouri,  or  up  among  the  Pottawatomie 
Indians.  They  would  be  safe  there.  Your  property,  too,  is  in  imminent 
danger. 

Every  day  brings  the  intelligence  of  some  new  act  of  outrage — house- 
burnings,  brutal  threatenings,  and  attempted  assassinations.  How  can  we 
go  on  living  thus,  in  God's  name  ?  Is  there  no  law  in  Kansas  ?  To  whom 
are  we  to  look  for  aid?  How  is  all  this  to  end ?  Are  our  lives  to  be  menaced 
—is  our  property  to  be  destroyed — and  are  women  and  children  to  be  driven 
from  their  desolated  homes,  without  the  upraising  of  an  arm  to  stay  the  per- 
petrators of  these  acts  of  lawless  violence  ?  Is  there  no  power  vested  in  our 
Governor — no  protection  to  be  obtained  from  the  Executive  ?  Or  must  the 
law-abiding  citizens  of  Kansas  be  driven  into  the  terrible  alternative  of 
defending,  by  Lynch  law  and  armed  violence,  their  homes  and  firesides  ?  If 
we  have  laws  why  are  they  not  enforced  ?  Something  must  be  done  for  our 
relief,  and  that  speedily. 

The  foregoing  is  all  which  would  be  interesting  to  the  reader. 
It  is  written  by  Dr.  George  W.  Johnson,  who  is — as  we  have 
elsewhere  stated — a  son  of  Governor  Johnson  of  Virginia.  A 
postscript  from  William  H.  Doak,  Esq.,  a  brother-in-law  of 
Major  Clarke's — the  bearer  of  the  documents  being  named 
Rufus — endorses  and  corroborates  the  foregoing  statements,  and 
adds  that  they  are  going  to  get  some  of  their  neighbors  to  assist 
in  defending  Major  Clarke's  house  until  arrangements  can  be 
made  for  the  removal  of  his  family. 

The  letter  from  Mrs.  Clarke  is  of  similar  import. 

Major  Clarke's  residence  is  at  present  occupied  by  two  fami- 
lies— this  has  been  the  case  since  the  breaking  out  of  the  Kansas 
troubles.  Among  its  inmates  may  be  numbered  two  females  and 
five  small  children.  Had  they  been  left  houseless,  on  the  bitter 
night  of  December  thirtieth,  to  find  their  way  through  the 
frozen  snow  to  the  nearest  dwelling  (three-quarters  of  a  mile 
distant),  it  is  most  probable  that  some  of  these  little  ones  would 


238  LYNCH  LAW  THREATENED. 

have  fallen  victims  to  the  terrible  state  of  things  which  now 

exists  in  some  sections  of  Kansas. 

The  facts  connected  with  this  incendiary  attempt,  as  related 
to  us  by  Mr.  Rufns  Doak,  the  bearer  of  the  letters,  are  these  ■ 

Between  12  and  1  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  thirtieth  of 
December,  Mr  Doak  and  Dr.  Johnson  were  awakened  by  the 
appearance  of  smoke  and  a  smell  as  if  of  burning  tar  in  the 
room  in  which  they  were  sleeping.  They  immediately  arose, 
and  on  making  examination  discovered  fire  under  one  of  the 
rooms,  adjoining  that  in  which  Major  Clarke's  family  were  sleep- 
ing. They  found,  upon  looking,  that  the  underpinning  of  this 
portion  of  the  house  (a  frame  one)  had  been  removed,  and  a 
fire  of  light  wood  sticks  built  underneath.  To  render  the 
destruction  of  the  house  more  certain,  other  combustibles  were 
placed  in  such  a  position  as  to  feed  the  flames.  An  outbuilding 
also  filled  with  hay,  gathered  from  a  neighboring  stack.  Tl  - 
had  been  ignited,  but  did  not  burn  out — probably  from  the  hay 
having  being  wet  with  snow.  The  flames  were  discovered  just 
in  time  to  save  the  house. 

Major  Clarke  and  Dr.  Johnson  are  the  only  persons  living  in 
the  vicinity  of  Lawrence  who  signed  the  address  to  the  people, 
recently  published  by  the  "  Law  and  Order  Convention,"  which 
assembled  at  Leavenworth  City  in  November  last. 

MIDNIGHT. 

P.  S. — Information  has  just  reached  us  from  a  reliable  source, 
that  a  party  of  Major  Clark's  neighbors,  well-meaning,  but 
inconsiderate  men,  have  it  in  contemplation  to  turn  out,  investi- 
gate the  affair  thoroughly,  arrest  the  suspected  persons,  and  if 
sufficient  evidence  be  adduced,  lynch  the  offenders.  A  man 
named  Jones  is  more  particularly  threatened.  We  understood 
that  it  was  in  contemplation  to  tie  him  up  and  whip  him  into  a 
confession.    Major  Clarke  has,  however,  with  great  good  sense, 


FOR  DREAMLAND  DIRECT. 


239 


determined  to  discountenance  any  act  on  the  part  of  the  Pro- 
Slavery  people,  which  might  even  be  construed  into  an  attempt 
to  take  the  law  into  their  own  hands.  He  will  use  every  ex- 
ertion to  bring  the  perpetrators  of  these  unauthorized  acts  to 
justice,  but  will  do  so  in  a  strictly  legal  way.  We  shall  continue 
our  journey  at  daybreak — he  to  repress  any  ill-judged  demon- 
stration on  the  part  of  his  neighbors,  whose  indignation — he  tells 
us— has  been  highly  excited  by  these  repeated  attempts  to  do 
him  injury  ;  and  we  to  gather  facts  which  will  enable  us  to 
report  "  the  truth,  the  whole  truth,  and  nothing  but  the  truth," 
without  fear,  favor,  or  affection.  It  is  to  be  feared,  however, 
that  the  Major  will  arrive  too  late. 

Ere  our  dispatch  was  concluded,  the  four  inches  of  candle 
—which  our  amiable  host,  with  a  shrewd  eye  to  economy,  had 
declared,  was  enough,  as  he  reckoned,  for  all  thar  pen-work 
that  we  would  want  to  do — were  almost  burned  down,  and  as  its 
last  line  was  written,  fairly  flickered  in  the  socket.  We  hesitated 
for  a  moment;  listened  to  the  deep-drawn  snores  of  our  neighbors, 
and  then  doffed  our  outer  garments,  and  after  groping  about  for 
a  while  in  a  sort  of  Egyptian  darkness  (though,  for  that  matter,  we 
never  could  understand  why  it  should  be  darker  in  Egypt  than 
anywhere  else),  found  our  way  to  the  unoccupied  half  of  the 
Major's  feather-bed,  where  we  burrowed  in,  so  utterly  wearied 
both  in  mind  and  body,  that  we  were  in  the  far-off  land  of  dreams 
almost  upon  the  instant  that  our  tired  head  touched  the  pillow. 


240 


NEW  YEAR'S  EVE  IN  .  THE  WILDERNESS. 


■ 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

NEW  YEAR'S  EVE  BY  A  LOG-CABIN  HEARTH.  . 

December  31st,  the  last  day  of  poor  old  1855. — And  very  early, 
in  this  Polar  Region,  of  a  winter  morning  to  boot.  But  early  as 
it  is,  we  should  have  been  on  our  way  full  an  hour  ago,  had  we 
not  been  delayed  by  the  stupidity  of  one  of  Donaldson's  negroes, 
who  has  been  chasse-ing  up  and  down  half  an  acre  of  timber,  in 
pursuit  of  our  mule-rats,  who,  though  lazy  enough  in  the  hai- 
ness,  would  seem  to  be  more  than  sufficiently  vivacious  when 
released  from  its  thraldom. 

Nine  o'clock. — Off  at  last,  with  a  freezing  wind  blowing 
keenly,  and  a  twenty  miles'  ride  before  us  to  Bean's  on  the 
Wakarusa,  where  we  expect  to  pass  the  night  ;  our  way  laid  for 
the  most  part  over  long  ridges  of  prairie  ;  the  dreariest  of 
dreary  winter  roads  ;  but  the  Major  and  myself  had  made  up 
our  minds  to  "  'joy  ourselves,"  as  the  darkeys  say  at  Christmas 
time  ;  and  after  our  fashion,  we  did,  for  we  begun  singing  songs 
most  awfully  out  of  tune,  and  telling  all  sorts  of  "  yarns,"  ind 
managed  to  keep  even  with  the  unpropitious  weather,  until 
within  five  miles  of  our  stopping-place,  and  then  Jack  Frost  got 
the  better  of  us  ;  we  grew  silent ;  the  Major  swore  he  was 
"  most  froze,"  and  not  another  word  was  spoken,  except  to  the 
mules,  and  only  then  in  the  way  of  admonition,  until  "  Our 
Correspondent "  was  aroused  from  the  half  sleeping  state  into 
which  he  had  fallen,  by  an  imitation  of  a  Pottawatomie  war- 


A  SWEET,   SUNSHINY  FACE. 


241 


hoop  from  the  Major,  and  a  cry  of  "  Thank  the  Lord,  there's 
Bean's  cabin  at  last,"  as  we  drove  up  to  the  rail  fence  which 
formed  its  apology  for  an  enclosure.  We  had  not  been  housed 
over  half  an  hour  when  Doctor  Rodrigue's  ambulance  arrived, 
and  reinforced  our  party  by  the  addition  of  its  hungry  and  half- 
frozen  inmates. 

New  Year's  eve. — We  are  all  gathered  about  the  fire  in  the 
already  described  best  room  of  Bean's  log-cabin  "  hotel;"  and  bad 
is  the  best  here.  There  is  a  huge  fire  upon  the  hearth,  and  we 
draw  our  chairs  as  closely  up  to  it  as  the  number  of  the  circle 
to  be  warmed  will  permit.  It  is  certainly  a  very  mixed  assem- 
bly— this  impromptu  New  Year's  eve  party  of  ours — such  an 
one,  indeed,  as  is  only  united  by  chance.  Let  us  give  you  a  few 
of  the  principal  heads. 

And  first  for  the  ladies,  "  God  bless  them,"  say  we  to-night, 
wherever  they  may  be,  by  log-cabin  hearths  or  in  city  chambers, 
whether  high  or  low,  rich  or  poor,  matron  or  maid,  once  more 
we  say  God  bless  them  all,  for  they  shall  be  included  in  our  toast 
to-night,  if  Bean's  whisky  be  sufficiently  drinkable  to  permit  of 
our  \i  wishing  luck  n  in  a  glass  of  the  beverage  to  old,  dying 
1855,  ere  he  makes  his  midnight  flitting  for  parts  uuknown. 

But  let's  return  to  the  ladies.  Mistress  Bean,  a  fat,  mid- 
dle-aged, and  withal  right  good-natured  body,  occupies  a  cosy 
seat,  if  such  a  thing  is  to  be  found  in  an  apartment  which 
admits  the  wintry  blast  at  every  nook  and  cranny,  even  without 
counting  the  windows  that  the  red  cow  knocked  her  horn 
through  some  ten  days  syne. 

The  corner  opposite  to  our  stout  hostess  is  graced  by  the  pre- 
sence of  the  fair  Miss  Rodrigue,  whose  sweet,  sunshiny  face, 
shaded  by  a  profusion  of  dark  brown  hair,  and  yet  girlish  form, 
would  seem  more  in  keeping  with  the  superfluities  of  a  metropo- 
litan drawing-room,  than  with  the  rude  furniture  and  very  pri- 
mitive residence  of  our  landlord,  Mr.  Bean.     Beside  Miss 

" 


242 


PEN  AND  INK  PORTRAITS. 


Rodrigue  sits  her  father,  a  short,  slenderly-built,  keen-eyed  and 
almost  raven-haired  man,  with  military  whiskers,  and  an  intellec- 
tual brow,  whose  manner  is  that  of  a  polished  gentleman,  not 
the  gentleman  of  the  saloons,  but  that  of  a  man  who  has  seen 
the  world,  knows  life  thoroughly,  and  has  studied  mankind,, 
until  mankind  has  become  a  readable  book.  He  is,  therefore, 
quite  at  his  ease,  and  can  accommodate  himself  to  the  eccentricities 
of  those  about  him,  without  stepping  out  of  his  own  calm  digni- 
fied style.  To  the  Doctor,  circumstances  are  slaves — not  masters. 

Then  we  have  Doctor  Rodrigue's  son,  and  his  father  confessor, 
the  old  soldier-priest,  who  have  already  had  their  sittings  for  oui 
pen  aud  ink  portraits.  And  then  we  must  not  forget  our  com 
panion  of  the  road,  the  Major,  who  sits  nursing  his  leg— 
the  very  picture  of  drollery  and  good-heartedness — and  peering 
into  the  blaze,  as  if  he  had  just  caught  the  profile  of  some  new- 
born comicality  which  he  was  imaging  forth  among  the  red-eyec 
coals. 

Then,  there's  "  old  mau  Bean,"  who  was  once  a  soldier — om 
of  Harney's  dragoons  on  the  Indian  frontier,  years  ago,  who  wil 
tell  you  still  that  the  old  General  can  swear  a  little  harder,  aoc 
fight  a  little  faster  than  any  man  of  his  feet  and  inches — som( 
six  feet  three — whom  he  has  ever  looked  upon  before  or  since 
And  then  last,  but  very  far  from  least,  there's  "  Oar  Cor 
respondent,"  a  long,  thin,  high-browed  every-day  specimen  of 
New  Yorker  humanity — bearded — in  the  absence  of  the  barber 
ous — like  a  pard,  of  whom  the  least  said  the  soonest  mende  1. 

And  now,  as  we  have  somewhat  minutely  introduced  oui 
dramatis  persona  to  your  notice,  we  will  endeavor  to  increas< 
the  reader's  obligation  by  telling  him  something  of  what  the} 
say,  and  as  we  intend  to  treat  their  talk  very  much  in  the  sanu 
way  as  you  may  compliment  these,  our  scribblings — by  skimming 
it,  don't  quarrel  with  us  if  our  report  should  come  to  you  in  £ 
somewhat  disjointed  and  fragmentary  style.    For  we  will  yen 


THE  RESIGNED  LIEUTENANT. 


243 


ure  to  say  that  an  evening's  chat  never  took  a  wider  range 
han  did  our  fire-side  conversation  upon  the  New  Year's  Eve  of 

856  for  the  subject  treated,  and  not  badly  treated  either  in 

ome  instances,  comprised  the  state  of  the  country,  politics, 
aore  particularly  those  of  Kansas  Territory — "  the  war" — 
rom  a  recapitulation  of  which  may  prudence  deliver  us — Spiritu- 
lism — ghost  stories,  strange  coincidences,  Border  life — crops 
ndians,  and  Divinity,  with  now  and  then,  some  sly  allusions  to 
\ew  York  modes  and  manners,  with  all  their  extravagance  of 
oops,  flounces,  and  flirtations.  So  we  cry  place  for  a  yarn  or 
wo,  and  as  politics  leads  the  van  of  our  multiplicity  of  headings, 
re  will  introduce  anecdote  No.  1.,  which  is  a  veritable  yarn, 
y  which  we  mean  not  a  made-up  lie — a  fiction  founded  upon 
ilsehood,  but  a  dressed  up  truth  which  came  to  us  in  a  home- 
5un  garb.  Ara  we  to  be  blamed,  then,  if  we  should  present  it 
)  you  in  a  silken  gown  ?    It  may  be  called 

POLITICAL  ADVICE  GRATIS. 

We  would  recommend  the  following  to  politicians  going  West, 
id  especially  to  those  who  are  about  visiting  Kansas. 
There  was,  once  upon  a  time,  a  certain  lieutenant  in  the  navy 
?  Uncle  Sam,  who,  like  a  sensible  man,  came  finally  to  the  con- 
usion  that  "  going  down  to  the  sea  in  ships"  was  a  humbug, 
id  "  doing  business  upon  the  great  waters"  a  very  great  bore; 
short,  he  resigned,  and  as  republics  are  proverbially  ungrate- 
1,  found  it  necessary  to  seek  out  some  new  field  of  action,  in 
hich  to  mow  a  living  for  himself ;  he  cogitated  deeply,  for  it 
as  au  important  step  ;  his  "bread  and  butter"  were  in  the  scale, 
id  it  is  hardly  to  be  wondered  at  that  "  'he  inexhaustible 
sources  of  the  growing  West "  should  have  kicked  the  beam 
the  choice  of  location,  the  (more  so  as  there  are  great  open- 
a;s  for  business-hunting  young  men  in  "  those  diggin's,"  even 
thout  counting  the  Mammoth  Cave  in  Kentucky.    Well,  our 


244 


POLITICAL  ADVICE  GRATIS. 


resigned  lieutenant  made  up  his  mind  to  emigrate,  and  wa 
seriously  engaged  in  making  the  necessary  preparations  for  g 
doing,  when  an  old  politician,  a  warm  friend  of  our  sailor- 
dropped  in  to  give  him  some  farewell  advice. 

u  My  dear  said  he,  "  you  are  going  West.  It 

a  great  country — a  wonderful  country.    You  are  young  and  et 
terprising  ;  you  will  enter  into  political  life,  and  in  all  huma 
probability  be  elected  to  Congress.    Now,  let  me  give  you  a  fe 
practical  hints,  which  you  will  find  invaluable  in  stumping 
among  the  "  Hoosiers,"  they  are  the  result  of  twenty  years'  wor 
ing  in  the  political  harness.  I  adopted  them  as  my  sheet  ancho 
for  the  last  fifteen  years  of  that  period,  and  my  only  regret 
that  I  didn't  do  so  during  the  first  five.    They  are  easy  to 
and  not  hard  to  practise,  for  as  '  brevity  is  the  soul  of  wit/ 
reduced  the  whole  matter  to  these  three  simple  rules  : 

"1.  In  the  Western  country  never  tell  a  lie  politically,  for  y< 
are  sure  to  be  found  out — therefore  be  honest." 

"2.  In  the  Western  country  never  tell  the  truth  politically,  f 
somebody  will  be  ass  enough  to  dispute  with  you,  which  leads 
argument — therefore  don't." 

"  3.  In  the  Western  country  never  have  anything  to  do  with  n 
tionery  politically — meaning  thereby,  pen,  ink  and  paper — for 
leads  to  writing,  which  is  the  most  irretrievable  error  of  a 
for  though  that  which  is  spoken  may  be  denied — that  which 
written — can't  be — therefore  eschew  writing  as  you  would  t 
Devil." 

Whether  our  resigned  lieutenant  followed  these  very  excehV 
suggestions,  and  went  to  Congress  from  some  border  district 
a  running  comm  .ntary  upon  their  worth,  we  are  most  unforj 
nately  not  able  to  say — that  he  prospered  pecuniarily  wo  doi 
not,  for  who  does  not  know  that  Jack  never  fares  better  tb 
when  "  you  turn  him  out  to  grass." 

Under  the  Theological  head  of  our  New  Year's  Eve  log-cab- 


THE  JOLLY  MAN'S  STORY. 


245 


re  chat,v  we  remember  nothing  more  edifying  than  the  following, 
'Inch  its  narrator,  the  Jolly  Man,  may,  for  aught  we  kjiow 
j  the  contrary,  have  cribbed  from  the  "  splinters"  of  some 
bscure  Far  Western  country  newspaper  ;  but  cribbed  or  not,  it 
m't  bad,  and  moreover,  it  was  related  to  us  as  being  strictly 
rue  ;  the  reader  may  therefore  regard  it  as  a  veritable  incident  in 
be  life  of  a  distinguished  man,  who  united  great  talents  with  a 
onsiderable  amount  of  eccentricity.  But  the  Jolly  Man  shall 
ell  his  own  story  in  his  own  way,  without  further  preamble  from 
is.   He  calls  it  : 

FANATICISM  REBUKED — AN  ANECDOTE  OF  AARON  BURR. 

"  It  was  on  a  bright  Sabbath  morning,  and  in  a  certain  rural 
illage,  which,  for  convenience  sake,  shall  be  called  Mud  Hollow, 
hat  the  incident  occurred  which  I  am  about  to  relate.  The 
church-going  bell ;  had  ceased  ringing,  and  the  little  wooden 
neeting-house  was  already  crowded  to  excess,  for  a  'revival' 
vas  going  on,  and  all  Mud  Hollow  was  on  fire  with  the  anxiety 
)f  its  people  for  the  welfare  of  their  souls.  While  things  were 
n  this  truly  commendable  condition,  the  church-door  opened 
gently,  and  an  aged  man  walked  noiselessly  in — he  paused  for  a 
noment  as  he  entere%d,  and  looked  timidly  round,  as  if  seeking 
or  a  vacant  pew,  but  the  worshippers  in  that  immediate  vicinity 
vere  all  too  busily  engaged  in  listening  to  a  '  fire  and  brimstone ' 
lelineation  of  the  horrors  to  be  expected  in  the  worse  world  to 
:ome — which  a  very  Methodistical-looking  personage,  a  vinegar- 
aced  compound  of  white  neck-handkerchief  and  hymn  book,  was 
lelivering  in  the  most  approved  sledge-hammer  style — to  pay  any 
^articular  attention  to  the  advent  of  a  new  arrival.  Aaron 
3urr,  for  such  was  the  old  man's  celebrated  name,  accordingly 
iontinued  on,  and  was  walking,  hat  in  hand,  up  the  narrow, 


246 


AN  ANECDOTE  OF  AARON  BURR. 


middle  aisle,  to  seek  out,  perchance,  some  more  charitable 
Christian,  who  might  be  moved  by  the  grey-haired  Strang  r 
feeble  appearance  to  offer  him  the  courtesy  of  a  resting-place 
But  if  such  were  his  expectation  it  was  doomed  to  be  disap- 
pointed, for  Burr  found  himself  obliged  to  continue  on,  and 
war.  still  advancing,  though  the  'anxious  benches'  were  cL 
hand,  when  the  preacher  paused  abruptly  in  his  harangue, 
extended  his  hand  and  cried  out,  as  he  pointed  the  fore-fing(:r 
directly  at  his  venerable  hearer  : 

"  1  Thar — thar  comes  a  child  of  the  Devil — a  hoary-headed  sin- 
ner— and  ef  he  don't  repent  and  turn  from  the  error  of  his  ways, 
he'll  be  damned — damned — damned  to  the  lowest  depths  of  fiery 
perdition,  and  I  shall  bear  witness  against  him  before  the  Judg- 
ment Seat  of  God.' 

"  The  effect  of  this  outburst  seemed  electrical.  Burr  stopped 
short  in  his  tracks  as  if  struck  with  a  sudden  paralysis.  Bat 
his  moment  of  astonishment,  or  it  may  be  of  speechless  indigna- 
tion, at  the  indignity  which  had  just  been  offered  him,  was  soou 
over,  for  in  an  instant  his  course  of  action  was  decided  upon,  as, 
raising  his  trembling  right  arm  to  enforce  attention,  he  proceeded 
to  rebuke  the  impertinence  of  the  ill-bred  fanatic,  who  had  so 
gratuitously  insulted  him,  in  the  following  words,  and  it  is  said 
that  you  might  have  heard  a  pin  fall,  in  the  intense  silence  of 
that  over-crowded  building,  as  the  startled  audience  listened 
eagerly  to  their  delivery  : 

"  '  Ladies  and  Gentlemen,'  said  Burr,  '  with  your  good  par- 
son's permission,  I  should  be  pleased  if  you  would  permit  me  to 
say  a  very  few  words.  You  may  perhaps,  be  aware,  that  my  life 
has  beeu  one  of  many  experiences,  and  I  may  add  that  in  the 
course  of  those  experiences,  it  has  been  my  painful,  although 
not  unusual  lot,  to  come  in  contact  with  some  scoundrels,  out 
among  all  the  villians  of  whom  I  have  ever  heard,  or  even  read 


A  WESTERN  AMAZON. 


247 


of  in  the  calenders  of  human  crime,  I  know  none  so  -base — 
so  unmitigated^— so  vile — and  so  utterly  irreclaimable — as  the 
transgressor  who  turns  States  Evidence.' 

V  Need  I  add,  that  he  of  the  neck-handkerchief  and  hymn  book 
was  1  no  whar,'  while  the  sinner  was  most  unanimously  voted  un- 
worthy of  the  '  doubly  deep  damnation,  which  the  reverend  gen- 
tleman had  so  confidently  threatened." 

But  our  fire-side  yarns  have  taken  up  too  much  room  already, 
for  with  such  a  "  feast  of  reason  and  a  flow  of  soul,"  as  our 
"  Wakarusa  war,"  wherewith  to  regale  the  reader,  we  can  scarce 
afford  to  tickle  his  literary  palate  with  side  dishes.  So  we  must 
even  deny  ourself  the  pleasure  of  recording  good  Mistress  Bean's 
very  entertaining  narrative,  of  the  manner  iu  which  she  beat  off 
a  party  of  drunken  Indians  (who  insisted  on  entering  her  cabin 
by  the  window,  after  having  been  refused  admission  at  the  door), 
with  a  shovel  full  of  red  hot  coals,  which  she  wielded  like  an 
Amazon,  while  her  younger  sister  lay  screaming  under  the  bed, 
until  the  "  big  Ingin,"  who  led  on  this  riotous  crew,  fled,  yelling, 
from  the  scene  of  conflict,  with  his  shirt  on  fire  and  an  inflamma- 
tion of  the  chest  ;  for  our  buxom  hostess  "  upsot,"  to  use  her 
own  expression,  not  only  the  contents  of  the  shovel,  but  the 
greater  portion  of  a  tea-kettle  full  of  scalding  water  into  the 
breast  of  the  unlucky  redskin. 

There  was  another  incident  that,  we  regret  to  say,  is  also 
"  unavoidably  crowded  out  for  want  of  room  "  to  do  its  merits 
justice,  and  this  was  a  wolf-fight,  in  wWch  a  young  married 
lady,  who  hadn't  learned  the  etiquette  of  the  Far  Western 
country,  and  her  unfortunate  husband,  who  was  stupid  enough 
to  discharge  a  gun,  which,  as  his  better  half  assured  him,  she 
had  loaded  so  carefully  that  very  day,  figured  considerably.  The 
point  of  the  story  lies  in  the  fact,  that  the  lady  had  heard  her 
husband  say  that  he  put  in  just  three  fingers  of  powder  in  charg- 
ing the  piece  ;  and  so,  indeed,  had  she,  the  ouly  discrepancy  in 


248  KILLING  AT  BOTH  ENDS. 

.  .    .  mtf.  I 

their  calculations  being  this — that  he  measured  a  la  hunter — by 
breadth,  while  she,  as  women  are  accustomed  to  do,  calculated 
by  length — which,  in  the  end,  or,  to  speak  more  properly,  in  the 
chamber,  makes  all  the  difference  in  the  world,  not  only  in  r,be 
quantity  of  powder  but  in  the  severity  of  the  recoil  ;  for,  in  this 
instance,  our  well-meaning  dame  could  honestly  boast  that  l;er 
husband's  gun  was  an  improvement  upon  any  known  patent,  in- 
asmuch as,  under  her  supervision,  it  might  literally  be  said  to 
kill  at  both  ends. 

So  much  for  our  New  Year's  Eve. 

We  have  jotted  down  the  following  conversation,  which  we 
heard  to-day.  It  was  carried  on  between  two  "  Border  Ruf- 
fians," and  struck  us  as  being  a  particularly  rich,  and  withal 
noteworthy,  specimen  of  the  peculiar  phraseology  of  the  Far  West. 

First  Borderer. — Jim,  what  are  yeou  doing  now — busy,  bey  ? 

Second  Borderer. — Busy,  thunder  ;  I'm  just  that  busy,  that  I 
have  to  keep  a  jumping  round  like  a  toad  under  a  harrer. 

First  Borderer. — How's  Bob  ? 

Second  Borderer. — Oh,  Bob's  flat  broke,  as  flat  as  a  nigger 
baby's  head,  rolled  under  a  saw-log. 

First  Borderer. — Why,  I  thought  the  ole  man  would  ha?e 
kep  him  up. 

Second  Borderer. — So  he  would  ;  but  Bob's  such  a  no-a- 
count  cuss  that  the  ole  man  jest  gin  him  up,  and  now  he's  so 
poor,  that  if  steamboats  war  a  dime  a-piece,  Bob  couldn't  bay  a 
yawl. 

First  Borderer. — How  about  that  fight  you  had  tother  day 

with  Parsons  ? 

Second  Borderer. — Wael,  I  allow  it  wasn't  much  of  a  fight, 
no  how  ;  we  didn't  reckon  nothin'  on  it,  down  our  way  ;  it  war 
jest  a  difficulty  about  a  claim  that  me  and  some  of  Parsons' 
boys  got  inter  ;  so  ole  man  Parsons  jumped  me  up — but  I  reckon 
he  didn't  size  my  pile. 


OLE  MAN  PARSONS's  FIGHT. 


249 


First  Borderer. — Did  you  drop  him  ? 

Second  Borderer. —  Well,  I  did  ;  but  he's  a  mean  cuss  ;  for 
I  hed  him  down  far,  and  war  a  gougin'  him,  when  he  got  this 
byar  right  thumb  of  mine  inter  his  dog-gaun  ugly  mouth,  and 
I'll  jest  allow  ole  man  Parsons  hes  got  teeth  like  a  bar  ;  for 
while  I  war  a  gougin'  him,  he  kep  a  chawin'  away,  as  ef  my 
thumb  war  hog  meat  ;  an'  now  I'll  be  dog-gauned  ef  I  kin  strike 
nary  lick  with  it,  without  hollerin'  like  a  wild  Ingin,  with  thar 
pain. 

First  Borderer. — Wael,  ole  man  Parsons  is  some — but  come, 
Jim,  let's  licker. 

Second  Borderer. — Well,  now  yeou  air  a  talkin' ;  for  hyar's 
a  child  that  air  a  heap  dryer  nor  a  powder-horn.  (Exeunt 
omnes  to  the  grocery). 

Apropos  to  groceries,  an  artist  friend  of  ours,  who  is  not,  by 
the  way,  altogether  "  unknown  to  fame,"  tells  us  the  following 
of  his  road-side  experiences  in  the  Far  West.  He  had  gone 
upon  a  sketching  tour,  and,  in  the  course  of  his  perambula- 
tions, "put  up"  at  a  shanty  tavern,  which  rejoiced  in  a  log 
kitchen,  one  common  sleeping  room,  and  a  bar.  Now  our  friend, 
strauge  as  it  may  seem,  believed  that  whisky,  in  moderation, 
was  a  healthy  drink,  and  ought,  therefore,  to  be  patronized  ;  so 
having  passed  one  night  under  his  landlord's  roof,  he  entered 
the  bar-room,  after  a  late  breakfast,  and  ordered  an  "  eye  opener," 
by  way  of  preparation  for  a  hard  day's  study  in  the  field.  Upon 
tendering  a  dime  in  payment  for  his  drink,  that  being  the  small- 
est coin  in  his  possession,  while  the  current  value  of  the  article 
purchased  was  just  half  that  sum  ;  the  landlord — a  long,  ague- 
shaken,  hard-featured  man — searched  first  one  pocket  and  then 
the  other,  until  breeches,  coat,  vest,  and  even  an  old  overcoat, 
which  hung  upon  a  peg  in  the  corner,  had  been  thoroughly  ran- 
sacked ;  but  the  result  was  still  the  same — no  effects.  The 
landlord  seemed  bothered  ;  but  his  uncertainty  soon  vanished, 

11* 


GETTING  EVEN  BY  A  DOUBLE  ENTRY. 


250 


for,  having  quietly  faced  about,  and  gone  to  smoking  his  corn- 
cob pipe,  upon  a  low  rush-bottomed  chair  besitle  the  stove,  he 
finally  drawled  out  these  words  : — 

"  Stranger,  the  bar  owes  you  half-a-dime.  Bob,"  added  he, 
turning  to  a  white-headed  urchin,  who  mixed  the  drinks,  :m f 
managed  the  business  of  the  concern  in  his  father's  absence, 
"  Bob,  do  you  hyar  ?  the  bar  owes  this  hyar  stranger  halt'-a- 
dime." 

And  then,  as  if  fully  satisfied  with  this  ingenious  method  of 
arrauging  the  account,  the  landlord  drew  placidly  at  his  pipe, 
until  he  may  be  said  to  have  been  enveloped  in  an  atmosphere 
of  his  own.  Our  artist,  much  amused,  made  his  exit  and  his 
sketches,  and  upon  returning  at  night,  quite  wearied  with  a  long 
ramble,  he  once  more  stepped  up  to  the  bar,  and  demanded  a 
"  whisky-straight  f  the  compound  was  poured  out,  mixed,  and 
swallowed,  upon  being  assured  of  which,  the  agueish-looking 
vender  turned  solemnly  to  his  boy,  and  gave  utterance  to  this 
very  laconic  sentence  : — 

"  Bob,  the  bar  an'  this  hyar  stranger  hev  got  squar  P1 
Is  not  this  what  a  mercantile  man  would  call  balancing  an 
account  by  a  double  entry  ? 


NEW  YEAR'S  DAY. 


251 


CHAPTER  XXYI. 

OUR    NEW    YEAR'S  CALL. 

January  1st,  1856. — New- Year's  day,  and  no  calls  to  be 
made  ;  what  a  positiou  for  a  representative  of  the  Knickerbocker 
State — was  there  ever  so  great  a  change  ?  no  white  kids — no 
carriage — no  nice  young  ladies  with  their  voluminous  skirts  and 
sunny  smiles — no  "  compliments  of  the  season  " — no  tables  set 
out — no  hot  whisky-punch — no  fun — no  head-ache — no  nothing — 
but  in  lieu  of  these  we  caught  our  first  glimpse  of  New  Year's 
morning  through  the  chinks  of  a  poorly-daubed  log-cabin,  a 
sort  of  detached  chamber  for  two,  where  the  snow  lay  almost  as 
thick  inside  as  it  did  out.  And  now  we  will  beg  the  reader, 
especially  if  she  be  a  female  reader,  to  suppose  us  dressed,  and 
then  come  with  us  to  our  wash-stand — it's  that  tin  basin,  in 
which  we  have  just  broken  the  ice — you  can't  miss  it — it  stands 
on  the  bench  just  outside  the  main  cabin  ;  and  now  wait  a  moment 
until  we  polish  ourself  off  with  this  frozen  board  of  a  towel  by 
courtesy,  and  we  will  ask  you  in  to  the  fire — but  what's  that  ? — 
bang — bang — bang — why,  don't  you  know  ?  it's  the  Far  Western 
fashion  of  welcoming  in  the  New  Year.  Where's  our  revolver? 
pop — pop — pop — there  go  five  loads  of  powder,  and  mow,  as  we 
have  celebrated  the  day,  let's  get  in  to  breakfast.  We  won't 
invite  you  to  share  our  repast,  but  you  may  kill  time  profitably 
by  watching  the  glorious  doings  of  old  hard-featured  Jack  Frost, 
who  has  decked  every  shrub,  and  tree,  and  creeping  thing,  with 


252 


FALLING  WEATHER. 


his  silver  filagree  work,  and  fringed  pendants,  which  glitter  and 
sparkle  like  diamonds  on  a  Northern  beauty's  brow,  as  they 
wave  to  and  fro  in  the  cold  clear  sunshine  of  this  bracing  winter's 
morning.  And  now  a  hiatus  of  one  short  hour  will  find  H 
packed  and  ready  to  start.  But  we  must  first  suffer  a  detention, 
for  the  roads  are  "  mighty  slick,'7  as  a  Kansas  teamster  wooM 
say,  and  the  Wakarusa  creek,  with  its  steep  sides,  will  "  bother 
us  right  smartly  "  within  the  next  hundred  yards  ;  it  will  there- 
fore be  hardly  worth  while  to  get  into  our  conveyances,  until 
their  respective  drivers  have  gotten  them  safely  over,  so  we 
will  make  our  start  upon  foot,  which  enables  us  to  give  the 
pretty  Miss  Rodrigue  an  arm.  We  begin  the  descent,  and  had 
got  as  far  in  our  conversation  by  the  way,  as  "  Take  care,  if  you 
please,  Miss,  or  you  will  certainly  fall " — when  suddenly  we  expe- 
rienced a  sensation  (for  our  buffalo  shoes  were  smooth-soled,  and 
the  hill-side  yet  smoother),  and,  as  a  natural  consequence,  our 
heels  went  up,  while  our  head,  in  obedience  to  those'  unacommo- 
dating  laws  of  gravitation,  went  down,  which  brought  us  to 
the  bottom  of  the  "  bluff,"  a  descent  of  some  twenty  feet,  in 
much  less  time  than  it  takes  to  write  it,  where  we  picked  ourself 
up  as  rapidly  as  our  confusion  would  permit,  with  a  sort  of  intui- 
tive consciousness,  which  was  reduced  to  a  dead  certainty,  by  an 
upward  glance,  that  somebody  was  laughing  at  us,  and  that 
somebody,  a  very  nice  young  lady,  whom  we  had  just  parted 
from  in  what  a  Kentuckian  would  have  styled  "  a  most  extra- 
ordinary and  radiculous  manner."    But  it's  just  our  luck,  for 

11  We  never  had  a  tree  or  flower, 
Nor  walked  a  slippery  bit  of  ground," 

as  the  poet  has  it,  without  a  catastrophe  somewhere.  Certain  it 
is,  that  we  didn't  offer  to  see  the  " senorita"  up  the  hill  as  well 
as  down,  though  perhaps,  as  she  had  certainly  seen  us  down,  it 
would  have  been  nothing  more  than  a  fair  retaliation,  but  we 


DOWN  AND  LAUGHED  AT. 


253 


confess  it,  we  felt,  *as  we  scrambled  up  the  icy  slope,  that  we 
would,  in  our  unchristian  frame  of  mind,  have  given  all  our  old 
shoe-leather,  and  something  else  into  the  bargain,  to  have  seen 
the  damsel  follow  the  example  of  her  "illustrious  predecessor." 
But  we  hoped  in  vain,  for  we  all,  alas  !  reached  the  crest  of  the 
bank  in  safety,  where  we  waited  for  the  "  buggies,"  which  had 
been  obliged  to  adopt  a  more  circuitous  trail,  ere  they  could 
mount  the  hill  up  which  we,  the  pedestrians,  had  with  so  much 
difficulty  won  our  way.  Here  we  took  a  fresh  start,  and  bade 
farewell  to  our  fair  companion,  whose  bright  eyes  looked  as  mis- 
chievous as  only  a  coquettish  woman's  eyes  can  look,  when  she 
don't  want  to  laugh  at  you,  but  can't  help  it,  and  hoisted  ourself 
into  the  buggy,  in  which  the  stout  Major,  more  overdressed  than 
ever,  had  already  stowed  himself  away.  And  then  on — on — on — 
over  the  smooth,  snow-covered  road,  through  the  keen  nipping 
air,  with  the  Ice  King's'  banners  waving  gorgeously  over  our 
heads,  we  sped  rapidly  upon  our  way,  until  the  huge  trunks  and 
leafless  branches  of  the  "  river  bottom  "  were  left  behind,  and 
we  gained  once  more  the  open  prairie-land. 

The  sun  of  January  1st  was  not  more  than  three  hours  high, 
when  we  trotted  into  the  main  street  of  Franklin,  and  halted  at 
its  log-cabin  hotel.  Here  we  "  tied  up  "  for  a  few  moments,  and  in 
company  with  Mr.  Doak,  entered  a  small  frame  building,  labelled 
"  Grocery,"  where  we  hoped  to  get  a  warm,  even  if  we  didn't 
procure  a  "  warmer."  And  as  such  "Groceries"  are  common 
in  the  West,  we  will  give  the  reader — en  passant — a  rough 
notion  of  its  furnishing  :  it  was  a  one-room  affair,  say,  ten  feet 
by  twelve — or,  if  anything,  smaller — with  a  counter — a  row 
of  rough  board  shelves  garnished  with  a  couple  of  dirty 
decanters,  a  batch  of  yet  more  uncleanly  tumblers,  and  a  box 
marked  Havanas,  which  were  but  too  evidently  "  live-oak  penny- 
a-grabs."  The  stock-in-trade  of  the  establishment,  however, 
lay  in  a  couple  of  barrels  which  stood  in  one  corner,  with  a 


254 


A  GROCERY  GROUP. 


spigot  hi  each,  marked  "  Highly -rectified  Whisky,"  with  some- 
thing else  about  "  copper"  upon  them,  which  we  didn't  altogether 
understand,  but  afterwards  determined,  from  a  description  of 
their  contents,  to  be  an  abbreviation  indicating  copperas,  or  some 
similar  ingredient.  We  have  heard  a  shorter  name  for  the  com- 
pound, which,  though  inolegant,  is  nevertheless  expressive  ;  this 
title  is  nothing  more  nor  less  than  "  rot-gut  whisky,"  with  an 
addenda  about  its  "  killing  forty  rods  round  a  corner,"  which,  as 
it  is  an  every-day  remark  in  Missouri*  we  may  possibly  have 
told  you  before.  But  let  us  get  back  to  our  grocery  interior. 
The  bar-tender  and  proprietor  was  what  bar-tenders  of  his  class 
generally  are — slightly  inebriated  ;  with  no  coat  on — which,  as 
his  linen  was  far  from  unexceptionable,  would  have  been  rather 
an  improvement  than  otherwise — and  a  strange  knack  of  mixing 
drinks  and  making  change.  The  company  which  graced  this 
delectable  apartment  were,  to  do  them  justice,  quite  in  keeping 
with  the  place  :  a  single-eyed  chap,  with  a  very  red  nose,  and 
an  astonishing  pair  of  legs,  sat  astride  of  one  of  the  liquor  bar- 
rels— he  and  they  were  evidently  proved  friends — with  an  old 
weather-beaten  hat  cocked  knowingly  over  his  blind  eye,  while 
the  other  seemed  fully  employed  in  getting  up  a  series  of  winks, 
any  one  of  which  would  have  been  a  fortune  to  Burton  in  re 
Toodles.  When  we  entered  the  room,  "  Legs  "  was  fiddling 
away— as  if  his  very  existence  depended  upon  the  accuracy  of 
his  execution — at  that  never-failing  tune,  "  The  Arkansaw 
Traveller."  Next  to  this  worthy,  upon  a  rush-bottomed 
chair,  which  might  as  well  have  had  but  two  legs  iustead  of 
four,  for  any  service  required  by  its  present  occupant,  sat  a  kin- 
dred spirit,  who  braced  himself  against  the  stove  door  with  his 
right  foot,  while  its  companion  swung  backward  and  forward,  or 
when  this  motion  grew  wearisome,  varied  the  monotony  by  kick- 
ing time  vigorously  against  the  floor. 

A  filthy,  liquor-stained  table — extemporized  for  the  oceasiou 


WE  SHOW  OUR  BREEDING. 


255 


by  placing  a  piece  of  plank  across  an  empty  barrel  head — at  which 
three  bad  Border  specimeus  were  playing  what  in  Mississippi 
;  river  parlance  is  sometimes  called  "  a  friendly  game  of  poker," 
I  completed  the  filling  up  of  this  miniature  pandemonium  ;  and 
when  we  add  that  those  who  wan't  smoking,  were  for  the  most 
part  swearing  "  strange  oaths  and  barbarous  to  hear,"  we  pre- 
sume that  we  have  given  the  reader  a  sufficiency  of  outline, 
which  he  may  fill  up  or  not  as  his  fancy  dictates.  Yet  we  were 
very  polite  to  these  fellows,  for  it's  just  possible,,  and  highly  pro- 
bable, withal  that  had  we  given  ourself  airs,  "  we  mout  hev  got 
a  most  all-fired  thrashing,"  but  being  schooled  in  Western  ways, 
and  knowing  too,  that  there  is  no  country  where  appearances  are 
so  deceptive  as  in  the  Far  West,  we  did  just  what  we  should  advise 
the  reader  to  do  in  a  similar  "  crowd  "  and  under  like  circumstances. 
We  stepped  in  with  a  "  How  are  you,  gentlemen  ?"  declined  an 
invitation  to  drink,  out  of  respect  to  our  interior  economy,  but 
compromised  the  refusal  by  accepting  one  of  the  "  live-oak 
penny-a-grab"  cigars,  which  we  endeavored  to  smoke  until  Mr 
Doak  was  ready  to  start,  when  our  "  Good  morning,  gentle 
men,"  proved  us  to  be  "  a  mighty  wdl-raised  young  man." 

Once  more  upon  the  road,  Doak  pressed  his  horse  up  to  the 
side  of  our  vehicle,  and  as  he  galloped  within  whipping  distance, 
switched  our  lazy  mule  rats  into  something  between  a  trot  and  a 
would-be  canter,  which  brought  the  buggy  over  the  ground  at  a 
very  respectable  rate,  until  we  reached  the  forks  of  the  Lawrence 
road,  from  which  that  renowned  city  is  plainly  to  be  seen.  Here 
we  halted,  for  it  would  not  have  been  "  healthy,"  in  the  then 
excited  state  of  party  feeling,  for  Major  Clarke  to  have  entered 
the  place.  So  we  parted  with  mutual  good  wishes,  he  to  con- 
tinue on  to  his  residence  near  Lecompton,  and  we  to  achieve  the 
real  celebration  of  our  New  Year's  day,  by  walking  into  the  far- 
famed  city  of  Lawrence — "  the  Athens  of  Kansas,"  to  quote 
from  the  Free  State  people,  or  "the  Gall  Bag  of  the  Territory," 


256 


A  FREE-STATE  SETTLER'S  HOME. 


if  you  prefer  the  Pro-Slavery  appellation — where  we  hoped  to 
tread  the  classic  ground,  and  gaze  upon  the  impregnable  fortifi- 
cations of  the  Sebastopol  of  the  West. 

Our  welcome  to  the  exterior  of  Lawrence  at  least,  was  of  ibe 
coldest,  for  the  snow-clad  prairie-slopes,  the  chill  December 
blast,  and  the  hoar-frosted  woods  of  the  Wakarusa  bottom,  ill 
said  mercury  at  zero,  if  no  worse.  Under  these  depressing  cir- 
cumstances we  halted,  carpet-bag  in  hand,  at  the  first  "  improve- 
ment," as  they  call  a  house  in  this  country.  It  was  a  shanty  of 
the  "  rough  and  ready  "  sort,  a  composite  of  logs  and  boards, 
and  about  the  size  of  an  ordinary  cow-pen  :  but  we  were  anxious 
to  see  the  inside  of  a  Yankee  settler's  hut,  so  making  a  drink  of 
water  an  apology,  we  knocked,  was  invited  in,  and  entered,  and 
a  delightful  change  it  was  from  the  uninviting  landscape,  which 
impressed  one  so  chillingly  without.  Let  us  sketch  in  a  pleasant 
interior,  rich  in  warm  tints,  and  lit  up  by  real  heart  sunshine, 
just  such  a  cozy  scene,  in  fact,  as  Dickens  would  have  loved  to 
people  with  his  Perry bingles  and  Cratchits.  A  nice  little  woman 
with  a  bright-eyed  baby  upon  her  knee  (we  have  a  weakness  for 
babies),  and  a  tiny  flaxen-haired  young  lady  of  some  six  years 
old,  occupied  a  rude  arm-chair  and  "  home  manufactured"  stool, 
beside  the  old-fashioned  New  England  cooking-stove.  On  the 
bed,  which  half  filled  the  only  apartment,  that  did  duty  at 
once,  as  parlor,  kitchen,  and  bed-chamber,  sat  a  diminutive,  but 
clever-looking  man,  who  smiled  pleasantly  as  we  came  in,  and 
said,  "  Sit  down,"  at  the  same  time  pointing  to  a  chair,  where, 
as  we  more  than  half  suspected,  he  had,  when  we  knocked,  been 
sitting,  a  good  deal  closer  to  his  better-half  than  he  was  when 
we  entered  the  "  improvement."  We  say  we  suspected,  for  her 
dark-brown  hair,  which  evidently  had  been  most  scrupulously 
arranged,  was  now  disordered  on  the  side  next  to  him.  Now,  we 
don't  mean  to  say  that  he  had  been  sitting  with  an  arm  thrown 
round  that  taper  waist,  or  that  he  had  been  kissing  that  almost 


A  NEW- ENGLAND  WIFE  AND  BABY. 


257 


too  rosy  cheek  ;  no,  it  might  have  been  the  baby,  but  do  you 
know,  when  we  think  of  the  temptation,  we  are  not  so  sure  that 
it  was  the  baby  after  all. 

We  asked  for  a  drink,  and  this  little  woman,  a  very  M  Dot" 
of  a  wife,  laid  her  "  Dot  "  of  a  baby  very  gently  upon  the  bed, 
with  a  look  of  motherly  tenderness  as  she  did  so,  that  reminded 
us  of  some  truly  poetic  lines  which  speak  of 

"  A  woman's  crown  of  glory, 
The  blessing  of  a  child," 

and  then  our  New  England  "  Dot "  handed  us  a  tin  dipper  full 
of  clear,  cold  water — but  such  a  dipper,  "  clean  as  hands  could 
make  it,"  as  the  old  saw  has  it.  But  it  wasn't  the  dipper  alone, 
for  if  cleanliness  be  contagious,  it  must  have  been  so  here, 
for,  though  everything  bespoke  a  new  country,  everything  was 
neat — neat  even  to  a  fault  ;  your  eye  almost  longed  for  some- 
thing out  of  place,  just  to  break  up  the  monotony.  There  were 
plenty  of  books,  too,  that  is  to  say,  plenty  for  a  new  settlement, 
books  that  were  books,  none  of  your  gilt-edged,  mean-nothing 
sentimentalities,  but  hard  facts,  and  standard  fiction,  with  here 
and  there  a  volume  which  bore  the  name  of  one  of  those 

"  Bards  sublime 
Wh'ose  distant  footsteps  echo, 
Through  the  corridors  of  time." 

And  better  still,  the  man  himself  was  reading.  But  we  found  him 
(alas) !  full  of  fight,  though  we  wouldn't  have  you  think  that  we 
don't  approve  of  fighting,  for  who  doesn't  know  that  desperate  dis- 
eases require  desperate  remedies  sometimes,  but  then  it's  a  bad 
business  at  the  best,  and  with  such  a  wife  and  baby,  even  without 
counting  in  the  flaxen-haired  little  girl,  a  great  deal  worse.  So 
we  are  candid  enough  to  confess  that  we  didn't  like  our  diminu- 
tive Yankee's  pugnacity.    Yet  upon  this  one  subject  he  seemed 


258 


LESS  TALK  AND  MORE  WORK. 


perfectly  rabid,  for  he  had  worked  in  the  trenches — he  had 
handled  his  Sharpe's  rifle — he  hated  the  Border  Ruffians — he 
wouldn't  be  conservative — he  was  prepared  to  "  do  and  die  "  in 
cause  of  Free  State-ism  and  Kansas — in  short,  our  friend  was 
of  that  ultra  type  who  would  treat  a  political  difficulty  as  m 
old  school  allopathist  would  prescribe  for  a  fever,  by  letting  blood 
for  it.  He  was  a  "  Deown  Easter  "  of  course — asked  plenty 
of  questions — giving  guarded  replies  to  such  queries  as  were  put 
to  him,  until  he  discovered  that  we  were  from  "York  State," 
and  then  thawed  out  like  a  snow-bank  in  the  sun. 

And  this  was  our  first,  and  we  may  as  well  say,  in  some 
respects,  pleasantest  experience  of  Lawrence.  For  we  must  con- 
fess that  we  have  not  yet  fallen  in  love  with  this  politician,  or 
perhaps  we  should  rather  say  politics-ridden  town.  Lawrence 
labors  under  one  very  serious  difficulty,  she  needs  less  talk  and 
more  work.  There  is  no  cause,  however  good  or  just,  which  has 
not,  since  the  beginning  of  time,  been  more  or  less  afflicted  by 
cant,  and  Free  State-ism  does  not  appear  to  be  exempt  from  this 
universal  curse.  As  in  Missouri  we  heard  too  much  of  "those 
rascally  Abolitionists,"  and  l"  those  infernal  nigger-stealing  Free 
State  men  in  Kansas,"  so  in  Lawrence  we. were  equally  annoyed 
by  the  everlasting  reiteration  of  such  remarks  as,  "  those  hounds, 
the  Border  Ruffians,  who  would  kill  children  and  insult  our 
women,  if  they  were  not  afraid  of  our  rifles."  Now,  all  this  is 
wrong,  radically  wrong  on  both  sides.  Give  us  a  little  less,  good 
people,  of  what  that  much-quoted,  and  very  sensible  authority, 
Mr.  Weller,  calls,  "  A  passin  of  Resolutions,  and  a  wotin'  of 
Supplies,  and  all  sorts  of  goings  on,"  and  a  little  more  of  that 
honest  toil  which  puts  the  sweat  on  the  working-man's  brow,  and 
the  hard  dollars  in  his  purse,  and  we  will  venture  to  say,  that 
Lawrence  will  be  none  the  worse  politically,  and  considerably  the 
better  in  a  pecuniary  point  of  view,  for  our  suggestion.  At  pre- 
sent "  the  war  "  seems  like  charity,  which  "  covereth  a  multitude  ot 


THE  CINCINNATI  HOUSE. 


259 


sins,"  for  if  you  ask  a  man  why  he  doesn't  repair  his  uncomfort- 
able house,  he  tells  you  he  would  but  for  the  war;  and  the 
same  reply  will  be  tendered  you,  if  a  cow  elope  in  search  of 
better  shelter  than  her  owner's  pen  affords,  or  a  pig  break  out 
of  his  dilapidated  stye;  it  is  ever  "  the  war,  the  war,"  in  all  its 
moods  and  tenses.  For  know  all  men  that  the  "war" — 
past,  present  and  prospective — haunts  Lawrence  like  a  night- 
mare, until  her  worthy  citizens  are  transformed  into  heroes  of 
battles  which  might  have  been,  while  her  orators  season  their  dis- 
courses with  "  villainous  saltpetre,"  and  even  the  tailor  grown 
familiar  with  "  war's  alarms,"  shoulders  his  yard-stick,  and  tells 
his  customers  how  fields  may  yet  be  won. 

In  sober  earnest,  we  really  think  that  Kansas  may  take  up 
the  cry,  "preserve  me  from  my  friends,"  for,  even  at  the  risk  of 
pleasing  nobody,  we  feel  justified  in  saying  that  Southern  Filli- 
busterism  and  Northern  interference,  have,  in  no  respect,  done 
Kansas  any  good.  She  has,  or  had,  within  herself  elements  which 
must,  sooner  or  later,  have  produced  results  which  would  have 
won  for  her  the  respect,  if  not  the  admiration,  of  her  sister 
States  ;  for  we  thank  God  that  there  is,  'even  upon  the  Far 
Western  border,  a  remnant,  small  though  it  be,  of  honest 
thinking,  and  conservative  men,  whose  nobility  of  character  will 
stand  out  in  bolder  relief  in  the  hour  of  political  danger  and 
agitation,  as  the  sky  above  them  grows  blacker  and  more  lower- 
ing. Would  that  there  were  more  such,  for  we  should  then  hear 
less  of  windy  vaporings  with  their  threatenings  of  disunion  and 
retaliation.  But  we  have  too  much  to  say  in  the  way  of  de- 
scription, to  be  able  to  afford  even  a  conservative  digression  here  ; 
so  let  us  on  to  Lawrence. 

Upon  entering  the  city  proper,  we  took  up  our  quarters  at 
the  "  Cincinnati  House,"  so  called  because  it  is  literally  a  Cin- 
cinnati house,  having  been  brought  out  in  pieces  from  that  hog- 
slaughtering  city,  to  be  re-united  in  the  Territory :  houses,  it 


260 


OUR  LAND- LADIES. 


may  be  remarked,  are  one  of  the  few  "  foreign  importations," 
which  unite  harmoniously  in  Kansas. 

Of  this,  "  mine  inn,"  we  shall  say  nothing,  for  we  bear  in  mind 
the  proverb,  of  the  least  said  the  soonest  mended  ;  it  would  hail 
been  a  blessed  thing,  by  the  way,  for  those  who  patronized  the 
Cincinnati's  uneasy  couches  through  those  January  nights,  if 
the  latter  part  of  our  quotation  could  have  been  applied  practi- 
cally, to  its  bed-room  windows. 

Yet,  though  we  slight  the  domicil,  we  should  be  most  impolite, 
not  to  say  unapprecidtive,  if  we  were  to  permit  ourselves  to  forget 
its  amiable  landladies — for  the  "  House  n  boasted  a  brace  of  pro- 
prietresses, which  doesn't  surprise  us,  for  we  hardly  believe  that 
the  genius  of  one  individual  alone,  could  have  kept  up  so  extraordi- 
nary  an  establishment — but,  let  us  assure  the  reader  that  this  pair 
were  noteworthy  personages  in  their  humble  way,  as  much  so,  per- 
haps, as  "  Melissy,"  or  even  "  the  inconsolable  widow  of  Deacon 
Bedott,"  who  didn't  "intend  to  git  married  agin."  But  we  will 
do  their  portraits  from  the  life,  and  abide  by  the  artistic 
result. 

And  first — the  elder  (for  age  must,  in  this  instance,  take  pre- 
cedence of  even  personal  attractions),  seemed  a  motherly  old 
creature,  whose  life  was  an  odd  mixture  of  silver  spectacles  and 
yarn  stocking-mending,  quite  in  the  Mrs.  Partington  style. 
But  these  were  but  a  tithe  of  this  good  lady's  strong  points,  for 
she  had  large  sympathies — "pitied  the  oppressed" — talked  pol- 
itics— which  usually  eventuated  in  a  conglomeration  of  prin- 
ciples and  parties — with  some  such  remark,  by  way  of  finale,  as 
"Deary  me,  what  is  the  world  a  comin' to  next?"  She  was, 
moreover,  a  firm  believer  in  patent  medicines,  and  "htalin' 
yarbs" — had  strongly  methodistical  proclivities,  and  to  wind  up 
all,  wondered  "what  on  airth  we  found  in  Lawrence  to  write 
about  for  the  newspapers." 

The  younger — if  forty  odd  be  young — was,  in  every  respect 


MISS  CHARITY. 


261 


save  one,  the  very  antipodes  of  the  elder  ;  for,  where  her  coadju- 
trix  was  short  and  fat,  she  was  tall  and  lean — a  la  Miss  Miggs, 
whose  fervent  attachment  for  "  Simmums  "  adorns  the  pages  of 
Barnaby  Rudge.  In  size,  our  junior  hostess  was  somewhere 
between  five  feet  ten  and  six  feet,  in  a  pair  of  stockings,  eter- 
nally down  at  the  heel,  and  if  anything,  rather  more  up  than  down 
from  the  estimate  first  given.  To  complete  the  picture,  fancy 
little  black  eyes,  set  deeply  into  the  head  ;  a  long  nose,  with 
what  sailors  term  a  "  slight  leaning  to  port  a  wide  mouth, 
well  garnished  with  masticators,  which  that  droll  fellow  Hood 
would  have  called 

»  Very  large  teeth  for  her  age ;" 

add  to  these  a  chin,  which  was  poked  independently  out,  as  if 
it  had  begun  life  in  advance  of  its  sister  features,  and  intended  to 
keep  ahead  or  die  gloriously  in  the  attempt,  and  our  faint  out- 
line is  complete.  But  deary  me,  her  good  looks  were  the  small- 
est singularity — she  had  a  tongue.  Did  you  ever  hear,  good 
reader,  of  a  tongue  hung  in  the  middle,  which  worked  both 
ways  ?  Didn't,  hey  ?  Well,  we  have,  and  it's  our  private  opin- 
ion that  we  came  nearer  to  realizing  that  idea,  in  Miss  Charity's 
case,  than  we  ever  have  before,  or  shall  again  ;  and,  further- 
more, if  that  tongue  rested  from  its  labors,  we  are  not  yet  aware 
of  the  fact;  we  were  even  haunted  with  a  terrible  suspicion  that 
she  talked  in  her  sleep,  in  which  case,  may  our  good  angel  de- 
liver us  from  being — but  we  won't  say  that,  either.  But  it  was  a 
tongue,  that  of  Miss  Charity's  ;  a  tongue  to  be  proud  of ;  a 
tongue  which  would  have  been  a  mine  of  gold  to  a  divine,  a  for- 
tune to  a  lawyer,  a  curse  to  a  physician,  and  killed  any  politician 
dead,  in  six  weeks  from  the  unlucky  hour  in  which  he  started  it. 
She  had,  moreover,  a  weakness  for  key-holes,  which,  coupled 
with  a  most  inquiring  mind,  led  her  at  times  into  the  pursuit  of 
information  under  difficulties  ;  but,  as  we  wouldn't  do  even  a 


262 


LONG  SWEETENING. 


mosquito  harm,  unless  he  bit  us,  we  will  qualify  this  by  saying, 
that  we  thought  so  ;  for,  with  all  these  drawbacks,  our  juvenile 
landlady  was  an  apt  illustration  of  that  sweet  poetical  simile, 
which  is  embodied  in  the  quotation  of 


"  Linked  sweetness  long  drawn  out." 


A  POLITICAL  FREE  AND  EAST. 


263 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

THE  BALL. 

From  the  Cincinnati  House,  we  started  off  upon  a  tour  of  in- 
spection, which  brought  us  finally  to  a  narrow,  half-plastered, 
and  not  over  cleanly  office,  in  the  second  story  of  a  stone  build- 
ing, upon  Massachusetts  street,  the  main  avenue  as  yet — unless 
you  would  consult  the  city  as  it  is  built  upon  paper — of  that 
growing  metropolis — Lawrence.  Here  we  mounted,  by  special 
invitation,  up  a  dilapidated  wooden  stairway,  which  ran  along 
the  outside  of  the  house,  until  we  reached  a  door,  which  let  us  into 
the  apartment  referred  to.  Upon  entering,  we  almost  fell  into  the 
error  of  the  gentleman  from  Little  Rock,  who,  on  being  elected  to 
the  Arkansas  Legislature,  got  into  the  Senate  chamber  by  mis- 
take, and  then  swore  that  he  thought  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives was  a  doggery  ;  for  the  room  was  yellow  with  smoke, 
and  dingy  with  something  not  quite  so  easily  removed.  There 
was  a  stove,  too — a  very  dirty  one,  in  the  centre  of  the  apartment, 
about  which  we  found  a  circle  of  some  half-a-dozen  rather  rough- 
looking  specimens  of  Free  State  humanity,  tipped  back  in  their 
chairs,  with  feet  hoisted  upon  the  hearth,  into  which  an  occasional 
jet  of  tobacco-juice  was  squirted.  As  we  opened  the  door, 
everybody  seemed  talking  at  once,  but  more  particularly  a  little 
fellow,  in  a  rabbit-skin  cap,  who  turned  out  to  be  an  Irishman, 
with  a  brogue,  and  a  newspaper  editor,  in  a  small  way,  to  boot. 
The  subject  of  discussion,  just  then  upon  the  carpet,  as  near 


264 


THE  FREE  STATE  EXECUTIVES. 


as  we  could  get  at  it,  being  the  very  interesting  theme  of  polit- 
ical loaves  and  fishes,  with  the  proper  distribution  thereof. 
What  wonder  then,  that  those  present,  with  such  a  bone  of 
contention  as  Kansas  scrip  (of  which  more  anon),  to  fight  about, 
were  like  the  army  of  Bombastes  Furioso,  all  busily  engaged  in 
kicking  up  a  row  ?  Yet  this  august  assemblage — don't  be 
startled  at  the  announcement — for  remember,  that  this  was  Legis- 
lation upon  the  Border,  and  even  Congress  itself  is  not  always, 
under  similar  circumstances,  quite  so  dignified — was  an  official 
meeting,  for  the  transaction  of  bus-iness  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee for  the  Territory  of  Kansas. 

But  they  are  clever  fellows,  these  wonderful  chaps  of  Law- 
rence— some  of  them  we  mean,  for  we  brought  letters  to  Robin- 
son, ditto  to  Lane,  and  ditto  to  Lowry,  and  have  been  well 
received  and  politely  treated  by  all.  Our  being  the  representa- 
tive of  the  New  York  Herald,  may,  perhaps,  have  stood  just  a 
little  in  our  way  at  first,  but  as  we  declared  ourself  ready  to 
make  affidavit  to  its  or  anybody's  else  reformation,  if  required, 
our  Free  State  friends,  at  least  so  we  flattered  ourself,  finally 
settled  down  into  the  belief  that  we  were,  for  a  Newspaper  Cor- 
respondent, a  wonderfully  honest  sort  of  fellow. 

Pending  the  adjustment  of  sundry  Free  State  Editor's  bills 
for  printing  resolutions,  speeches,  and  so  forth,  which  were  to 
be  liquidated  in  the  very  peculiar  currency  already  referred  to- 
one  of  the  "Executives"  asked  us  if  we  were  "going  to  the 
ball  ?" 

What  ball?  Why  the  ball  which  was  to  take  place  that 
night  at  the  Free  State  Hotel,  as  a  sort  of  house-warmiug  for 
the  in-coming  year,  and  at  which  all  u  the  rank,  beauty,  and 
fashion,"  as  the  English  journalists  express  it,  of  Lawrence 
and  its  vicinity  would  most  undoubtedly  appear.  We  had  not 
obtained  a  ticket,  but  would  do  so,  as  we  had  an  earnest  desire 
to  see  the  belles  of  Kansas.  Our  friend  stepped  out  and  speedily 


FRONTIER  FULL  DRESS. 


265 


returned  with  a  diminutive,  sweet-scented,  hot-pressed  note- 
paper,  gilt-edged  billet-doux,  printed  within  in  italics,  with  a  libe- 
ral allowance  of  capitals.  Upon  inspecting  this  very  lady-like 
missive,  we  found  its  contents  to  run  thus  : — 

"  NEW  YEAR'S  PARTY." 

u  The  company  of  yourself  and  lady  is  respectfully  solicited  at  a  Social 
Party,  to  be  given  at  the  Free  State  Hotel,  in  Lawrence,  on  Tuesday  eve- 
ning, January  1st,  1856." 

Then  follows  a  list  of  some  half  a  dozen  of  managers,  with 
the  addenda  of,  tickets,  $1  50 

Armed  with  these  credentials,  for  which  our  Executive  friend 
will  be  pleased  to  accept  our  thanks,  we  inquired  as  to  the  most 
fashionable  hour  at  which  we  might  venture  to  become  visible — 
were  told  eight  o'clock,  and  accordingly  entered  the  ball-room, 
an  unfinished  dining-hall  in  the  Free  State  Hotel,  at  the 
hour  indicated.  We  were  attired  for  the  occasion,  in  a  suit  of 
black,  which  was  "  built "  in  New  York,  and  has  been  con- 
sidered creditable  upon  Broadway  ;  but  we  might  have  spared 
ourself  some  trouble,  for  the  first  gentleman  we  met  sported  a 
short,  drab  overcoat,  a  very  long  red  comforter,  and  corduroy 
pants,  which  were  fitly  finished  at  the  bottom,  by  a  pair  of 
boots,  long  innocent  of  blacking,  but  bearing  most  unmistak- 
able signs,  to  more  senses  than  one,  of  being  thoroughly  greased; 
and  this  biped  was  a  fair  specimen,  by  the  way,  of  the  very  free 
and  easy  manner  in  which  the  male  portion  of  the  assemblage 
were  rigged  out. 

We  felt  out  of  place,  but  it  was  too  late  to  "  retrograde,"  so 
we  summoned  up  our  brass,  pulled  down  our  left  collar,  turned  up 
our  sleeves,  deranged  the  set  of  our  pants,  stuck  our  hands 
into  our  breeches  pockets,  donned  our  hat,  and  then  went 
into  conversation — pending  the  arrival  of  the  ladies,  who  were 

12 


266  A   KANSAS  BALL-ROOM. 

holding  on  for  the  music — with  our  next  neighbor — who  turned 
out  to  be  something  from  Indiaua,  in  a  blanket  overcoat,  and  a 
very  hoarse  cold — upon  that  unfailing  subject,  "  the  late  war." 
In  the  mean  time,  a  Dutchman — the  professor,  as  he  is  styled — 
who  has  gained  a  somewhat  expensive  immortality  by  giving  the 
first  concert  in  Kansas,  which — hurrah  for  her  musical  tastel— 
didn't  pay  either  himself  or  the  printer  who  struck  off  his 
notices — came  in  with  a  four-legged  affair  that  looked  like  a 
juvenile  piano,  not  yet  grown  up,  on  which  he  began  playing 
most  discordantly.  The  arrival  of  the  ladies,  who  made  their 
appearance  upon  the  young  piano  being  reinforced  by — judging 
from  its  execution — a  still  younger  violin,  put  a  stop  to  this 
thrumming,  and  the  ball  commenced. 

As  the  room  filled  up,  each  gentleman  was  supplied  with  a 
diminutive  paper  ticket,  which  tickets  had  been  previously 
numbered  by  the  floor  manager,  from  one  to  thirty  inclusive. 
The  object  of  this  was  to  give  each  guest  his  number,  so  that 
— as  the  room  was  too  small  to  accommodate  more  than  four  seta, 
for  quadrilles,  with  variations,  were  the  only  dances  attempted — 
each  man,  with  his  partner,  got  a  "fair  shake"  to  dance  in  their 
turn,  for  you  were  not  allowed  to  take  your  place  upon  the  floor 
until  your  number  had  been  called.  Well,  to  make  a  long  story 
short,  we  danced  with  sundry  of  the  Kansas  belles,  and  saw 
neither  lace-ruffles  nor  fancy  undersleeves,  hoops  nor  flounces,  low- 
necked  dresses  nor  embroidered  handkerchiefs,  but  everything 
passed  off  smoothly,  for  all  that.  The  dancing-hall,  however, 
merits  a  more  extended  description.  It  was,  as  we  have  already 
stated,  an  unfinished  room,  with  rough  stone  walls,  destitute  of 
plaster,  and  a  broken  window  or  two.  At  one  side  of  the  room 
a  carpenter's  bench  was  shoved  up  against  the  wall,  to  make 
way  for  the  trippers  upon  the  "  light  fantastic  toe,"  while  a 
cookiug-stove  graced  either  end  of  the  apartment,  and  furnished 
a  heater,  which  we  regret  to  say,  didn't  warm  the  room.    As  for 


PLAYING   ON  THE  WASH-BOARD. 


267 


candlesticks,  each  window  had  a  slip  of  board  fastened  across 
the  sash,  with  nails  driven  in  at  uncertain  intervals,  so  as  to 
support  the  candles,  which  threw  their  nickering  light  upon  this 
gay  and  festive  scene.  At  midnight  we  had  supper;  that  is 
to  say,  we  ranged  ourselves  upon  the  long  wooden  benches, 
— which  surrounded  the  room — to  the  number  of  some  eighty 
souls  or  more,  when,  being  "  all  set,"  at  a  given  signal  the  door 
opened — no,  we  mistake,  it  didn't — for  there  was  none  to  open — 
but  two  men  entered,  bearing  between  them  a  piece  of  plank,  on 
which  were  ranged  plates,  containing  a  triangle  of  cold  pie,  some 
raisins,  and  a  stick  of  candy  each — more  or  less,  as  the  lawyers 
say — this  was  followed  up  by  a  second  edition  of  planks,  and 
men  who  served  everybody — nolens  volens — with  a  cup  of  hot 
coffee;  then  came  cakes,  "  fearfully  and  wonderfully  "  made,  and 
then  back  came  the  .plank-bearers,  who  removed  the  fragments 
of  the  feast,  whereupon  the  dancers  went  to  work  again,  and 
we  went  home  to  bed.  We  cannot,  however,  close  our  notice  of 
the  ball  without  recording  a  conversation,  which  we  had  the 
honor  of  holding  with  one  of  the  prettiest,  and  certainly  the 
liveliest  girl  in  the  room.  It  was  short  and  sweet,  and  ran 
thus  : 

We. — (After  a  pause.)    Are  you  fond  of  music  ? 
She. — Oh  !  yes,  indeed  I  am. 

We. — (Stroking  down  our  moustache.)  Do  you  play  on  any 
instrument  ?" 

She. — Yes  sir,  I  reckon  I  do. 

We. — (Interested.)  On  the  piano,  or  do  you  prefer  the 
guitar? 

She. — No  sir.  But  I'm  great  on  the  wash-board.  I've  been 
practising-  all  day. 

We  fancied  that  we  had  listened  to  less  sensible  speeches  in 
more  pretentious  assemblies. 


268 


"THE  FAT  ONE  ENTER3. 


CHAPTER  XXYIII. 

THE  HEROINES  OF  THE  WAR. 

January  2d. — A  clear,  cold,  biting  day,  or  to  speak  more  cor- 
rectly at  this  present,  a  bitter  evening,  for  the  short  twilight  of 
winter  has  already  given  place  to  its  long  dreary,  night,  and  even 
as  we  write,  our  senior  hostess — the  short,  fat  one — -enters  with 
the  despairing  announcement  of  : 

"  My  goodness  gracious  !  eight  o'clock,  as  I  am  alive,  and  Miss 
Charity  ain't  got  the  fust  one  of  them  dishes  washed  up  yet. 
Well  I  never,  if  you  men  hain't  gooe  to  talkin'  politics  agin. 
I  spose  you'll  be  inductiu'  of  auother  party  next.  Oh  !  deary- 
me,  what  is  the  world  a  comin'  to  ?" 

Our  motherly  old  hostess  makes  her  exit,  very  much,  if  the 
truth  be  told,  to  our  mental  relief,  for  how  can  one  journalize 
with  any  degree  of  personal  satisfaction,  not  to  mention  truth- 
fulness, when  an  old  maid,  and  a  yet  older  matron,  aided  by  some 
half  a  dozen  boarding-house  politicians,  who  all  agree  in  disa- 
greeing, are  kicking  up  a  wordy  row,  within  ten  feet  of  die 
table  at  which  you  are  scribbling,  or,  to  be  accurate,  nibbling  your 
pen,  as  you  vainly  strive  to  grasp  the  tail  of  some  eel-like  idea, 
which  is  ever  slipping  from  you,  and  won't  be  caught. 

And  now  for  our  log — let  us  take  a  retrospective  view,  and 
go  back  to  11  o'clock  a.  m.,  at  which  hour  we  did  ourself 

the  pleasure  of  calling  upon  Mistress  W  ,  the  lttitr-K(  'j 

of  a  certain  hard-working  Free    State    politician,  and  ar 


A  CHAT  WITH  THE  LADIES. 


269 


elder  sister  of  one  of  our  fair  partners  of  the  evening  before. 

TheW  mansion  stands  upon  the  main  street  (or  as  the  good 

people  of  Lawrence  delight  to  call  it,  Massachusetts  Avenue); 
its  exterior  is,  at  the  best,  very  far  from  imposing,  for  though 
it  would  be  called  a  house  here,  it  might  be  suited  at  the  North 
with  a  less  dignified  appellation;  as  for  the  interior,  it  was,  if  we 
saw  all,  divided,  to  use  a  Hibernianism,  into  one  room,  a  bed,  and 
a  cooking-stove,  round  which  some  two  or  three  white-headed 
little  urchins  were  playing  noisily,  while  the  women  folks  talked 
over  that  very  interesting  event — our  last  night's  ball.  But  it 
was  not  long  ere  even  this  fruitful  subject  was  exhausted,  for 
in  a  country  where  the  feminines  have  but  one  party  dress, 
which  does  duty  all  the  year  round,  that  theme  becomes  stale, 
and  Kansas  is  almost  too  new  for  scandal,  so  it  is  hardly  to  be 
wondered  at,  that  the  tide  of  words  soon  flowed  into  their  natural 
channel,  which  means  the  Wakarusa  War,  for  in  this  section  of 
the  Territory,  at  least,  it  is  hard  to  exchange  ideas  with  any  one, 
without  being  fairly  dragged  into  the  whole  state  of  Kansas,  ere 
you  have  given  your  tongue  a  five  minutes'  run.  And  as  this 
led  very  naturally  to  the  personal  experiences  of  the  ladies 
present,  who  seemed  quite  willing  to  "  post  us  up,"  and  as  these 
experiences  were  really  of  a  very  extraordinary  and  withal 
adventurous  nature,  we  feel  confident  that  it  would  be  doing 
everybody  an  injustice  to  suppress  them  here.     But  let  us 

preface  the  narration,  or  rather  Mistress  W  — 's  story,  by 

the  assertion  that  if  Mistress  Molly  Starke  was  breveted  to  a 

Majority,  for  serving  a  piece  upon  the  field,  Mistress  W  •, 

(we  wish  we  knew  her  own  initials),  should  be  made  a  Captain 
of  Artillery,  at  the  very  least,  for  the  very  gallant  manner  in 

which  she  and  her  companion  (Mrs.  B  )  served  the  State,  in 

a  one-horse  buggy.  And  when  we  tell  you  this  heroine's  story, 
as  we  jotted  it  down  on  our  note-book,  from  her  own  lips,  as  she 
sat  sewing  by  her  cooking-stove,  with  the  urchins  aforesaid  play- 


270 


THE  FREE  STATE  HEROINE. 


ing  around  her  feet,  we  presume  you  will  not  only  agree  with 
us  in  the  recommendation  to  a  Captaincy,  but  avow  your- 
self ready  to  declare  that  Mistress  B   and  her  fair  com- 
panion are  trumps  ;  and  a  clear-grit  Yankee  woman  quite  equal, 
upon  an  emergency,  to  what,  in  vulgar  parlance,  is  quaintly  styled 
"  a  whole  team,  and  a  dog  under  the  wagon  "  to  boot.  But  to 
our  tale,  and  we  may  very  properly  call  it 

THE  FREE  STATE  HEROINE'S  ENTERPRISE. 

"  The  Kansas  war  was  at  its  height — Lawrence  was  a  Sebas- 
topol,  and  the  Wakarusa  and  Lecompton  camps  teemed  with 
those  barbarous  hordes,  the  '  Border  Ruffians/  when  it  was 
suddenly  discovered  by  the  stern  Republicans — all  black  though 
they  be — who  guarded  the  entrenchments  of  this  beleaguered  city, 
that  our  gallant  defenders  lacked  that  sine  qua  non  for  legalized 
bloodshed,  powder  and  ball.  Here,  then,  was  a  terrible  state 
of  affairs.  The  enemy  was  at  hand,  the  cloud  of  war  growing 
darker  every  day,  and  the  smoke  of  battle  just  about  to  be 
puffed  into  our  very  nostrils  ;  yet,  from  whence  were  we  1  the 
unterrified 9  to  obtain  a  sufficient  supply  of  '  villainous  salt- 
petre/— for  every  road  was  guarded,  every  avenue  closed,  every 
wagon  searched,  and  the  '  Border  Ruffians '  had  their  watchful 
scouts  upon  each  overlooking  hill,  so  that  no  man,  be  he  Free 
State,  or  Pro-Slavery,  might  come  or  go  unquestioned.  In  fact, 
the  Free  State  leaders  were  fairly  bothered,  but  where  '  the 
Lords  of  Creation '  exhaust  their  ingenuity  in  vain,  a  woman's 
wit  will  often  solve  the  problem,  and  it  was  so  in  this  in- 
stance, for  a  certain  Mistress  B   (also  of  Lawrence)  and 

myself  concocted  a  plan  which,  with  the  approval  of  the  Free 
State  generals,  we  determined  to  put  into  execution.  Our  scheme 
was  simply  this  :  We  knew  that  both  powder  and  lead,  together 
with  a  considerable  quantity  of  Sharpe's  rifle  ca.ps  and  cartridges 
were  deposited  with  those  favorable  to  our  cause,  at  two  sepa- 


BUSTLIXG  TIMES. 


2U 


rate  points  upon  the  Santa  Fe  trail.  It  does  not  matter  as  to 
their  particular  whereabouts,  but  it  wUl  do  nobody  any  harm  to 
say  that  they  are  to  be- found  within  ten  miles  of  the  room  in 
which  we  are  now  seated.  Now,  when  a  woman  makes  up  her  ' 
mind  to  do  anything,  be  it  good  or  bad,  it  is  already  more  than 
half  accomplished  ;  so  you  may  readily  suppose  that  no  very 
great  space  of  time  intervened  between  our  determination  to 
undertake  the  enterprise  and  our  putting  its  into  execution. 

"  So  at  eight  o'clock  on  a  bright  winter  morning,  Mistress 

B  and  myself  stepped  into  the  one-horse  buggy  which 

was  to  transport  us  to  the  localities  where  these  warlike  supplies 
were  awaiting  an  opportunity  to  reach  the  Free  State  camp, 
and  then  convey  us  back  again  well  laden,  as  we  trusted,  with 
the  much-desired  ammunition.  We  were  both,  I  can  assure  you, 
got  up,  so  far  as  equipments  were  concerned,  in  a  very  eccen- 
rict  fashion  for  the  trip  ;  as  for  myself,  I  wore  two  dresses,  and 
a  petticoat,  which,  though  it  went  forth  lined  with  wadding, 
came  back  charged  with  what — if  I  were  inclined  to  make  a 
pun,  might  be  called  excellent  gun-cotton.  We  were,  moreover, 
each  provided  with  an  article  which,  though  it  makes  no  great 
bustle  now-a-days,  was  in  this  particular  instance  well  fitted  to 
increase  the  noise  in  Lawrence  in  the  event  of  a  premature 
explosion,  for  they  had,  ere  we  re-entered  Massachusetts 
street,  been  literally  stuffed  with  a  commodity  that  rendered 
them  completely  water-proof,  insomuch  as  their  contents 
may  fairly  be  said  to  have  kept  them  as  dry  as  powder. 
But  a  truce  to  jesting — though  I  have  many  a  hearty  laugh 
when  I  recall  the  recollections  of  this  eventful  excursion. 

"  We  passed  the  picket  guards  of  the  Lawrence  camp,  and 
continued  on,  without  meeting  with  any  note-worthy  adventure, 
for  though  we  saw  several  parties  of  Missourians — the  fact  of  our 
being  females,  and  our  travelling  from  the  town,  was  probably 
a  sufficient  guarantee  for  our  harmlessness.    It  was  late  in  the 


272 


A  KILLING  PETTICOAT. 


morning — for  we  drove  slowly,  as  we  wished  to  save  our  marers 
strength  for  the  afternoon — ere  we  reached  the  dwelling  of  Mr, 
Blank,  our  first  stopping-place,  upon  the  Santa  Fe  trail. 
Here  we  received  a  warm  welcome,  coupled  with  many  expres- 
sions of  astonishment  at  our  temerity,  and,  what  was  more  to 
the  purpose,  a  keg  of  prime  rifle-powder,  which  I  should  say,  for 
I  carried  it  out  to  the  buggy  myself,  must  have  contained  up- 
wards of  twenty-five  pounds  ;  this  we  emptied  and  secreted 
carefully  about  our  persons,  I  could  hardly  tell-  you  where.  In 
addition  to  the  powder,  they  gave  us  a  quantity  of  lead  ;  this 
we  also  stowed  away  in  a  secret  hiding-place — as  for  the 
Sharpe's  rifle  caps,  we  put  those  into  our  stockings,  while  the 
cartridges  were  quilted  into  our  petticoats,  under-dress,  and  cloth- 
ing generally.  From  Mr.  Blank's  we  drove  to  the  residence 
of  another  Free  State  sympathizer,  who  also  lived  on  the 
Santa  Fe  trail,  where  we  obtained  not  only  powder  and  ball, 
but  an  additional  supply  of  Sharpe's  rifle  cartridges,  with  quite 
a  number  of  caps,  as  there  were  more  of  these  latter  muni- 
tions than  we  could  conveniently  dispose  of — being  already, 
as  an  artilleryman  might  say,  loaded  quite  up  to  the  muzzle 
— we  were,  though  very  unwillingly,  compelled  to  entrust 
them  to  a  boy,  and  a  sturdy  Free  State  youngster  too,  who, 
although  he  was  not  yet  nine  years  old,  was  going  to  try 
and  enter  Lawrence — which  of  course  involved  passing  the 
enemy's  scouting  parties — with  an  ox-team  that  he  was  driving. 
But  we  trusted,  as  his  cart  was  empty,  and  the  little  fellow  but 
a  mere  child,  that  his  youth  and  apparent  innocence  would  disarm 
the  suspicions  of  the  Pro-Slavery  people,  and  thus  permit  him  to 
pass  unsearched  with  his  dangerous  cargo  in  safety  to  our  lines. 
In  this  expectation,  however,  or,  to  speak  more  correctly,  in  a  por- 
tion of  it,  we  were  doomed  to  be  disappointed,  as  the  sequel  of 
my  story  will  show;  but  I  am  anticipating. 

"  Upon  completing  our  lading,  by  which  time  we  were  so  con- 


LOADED  TO  GO  OFF. 


273 


siderably  increased  in  bulk,  that  we  found  the  buggy  rather  a 
small  pattern  for  two,  I  grasped  the  reins  and  whipped  up  old  Sally, 
until  she  fairly  broke  into  a  run  as  we  took  the  homeward  road  ; 
for  it  was  not  far  from  three  o'clock,  p.  m.,  by  the  time  that  all 
our  preparations  for  departure  were  completed,  and  we  had  still 
some  ten  miles  to  go.  We  continued  to  rattle  on,  although  at  a 
rather  more  moderate  gait,  for  old  Sally's  vigorous  start  soon  so- 
bered down  into  a  long,  steady  trot,  which  carried  us  rapidly 
over  the  smooth  prairie  road  ;  and  were  already  within  a  few 
miles  of  home,  when,  just  as  I  was  beginning  to  bless  my  lucky 
stars,  for  what  promised  to  be  a  successful  termination  to  our 
adventure,  an  exclamation  from  my  companion  caused  me  to 
look  up,  and  there,  sure  enough,  were  a  party  of  '  Border-Ruf- 
fians 9  on  horseback,  whose  dark  figures  stood  out  in  bold  relief 
against  the  wintry  sky,  as  they  dotted  the  summit  of  a  distant 
prairie  rise,  where  they  seemed  to  have  reined  in  their  cattle, 
to  observe  us  ;  while,  worst  of  all,  two  of  their  number — and 
even  at  that  distance,  they  looked  unprepossessing  enough — were 
already  galloping  towards  us  at  top  speed,  as  if  to  cut  us  off. 
I  looked  at  my  companion,  as  if  I  meant  to  say,  "  What  on 
earth  are  we  to  do  now  ?"  and  she  returned  my  glance,  in  a 
manner  that  told  me,  as  plainly  as  words  could  have  spoken  it, 
'''  I'm  sure  I  do  not  know."  For  myself,  I  was  quite  at  my  wit's 
end  ;  I  formed  a  dozen  plans  in  a  minute,  and  dismissed  them 
with  equal  promptitude  the  next.  There  seemed  but  one  course 
left  for  us  to  pursue,  and  that  was  to  put  our  mare  to  her  speed, 
and  thereby — do  what  many  a  lady  has  done  before — make  a  run- 
away match  of  it ;  but,  as  we  were  already  both  married,  there 
wouldn't  have  been  much  poetry  in  that,  and  even  if  it  had  been 
otherwise,  a  moment's  reflection  convinced  me  that  such  an  es- 
capade, under  existing  circumstances,  would  be  sheer  madness,  as, 
even  if  old  Sally  could  have  done  anything  in  the  racing  way, 
the  heat  must  have  been  a  short  one,  for,  like  that  honest  citizen, 

12* 


274  OLD  SALLY  AND  HER  DRIVER. 

John  Gilpin,  in  the  song,  we  'carried  weight,'  which  would 
have  told  sadly  against  us  ;  for  how  could  old  Sally  drag  the 
buggy,  its  two  inmates,  and  our  hundred  pounds  of  powder  and 
ball,  in  a  trial  of  speed  with  some  twenty  odd  well-mounted 
frontiersmen,  who  would  be  able  to  take  advantage  of  every  cut- 
off in  a  road  whose  turnings  we  must  of  necessity  follow.  So 
as  there  was  nothing  for  it,  but  to  put  our  trust  in  the  winding 
up  of  the  chapter  of  accidents,  with,  perhaps,  a  little  feminine 
diplomacy  to  help  it  out,  I  drew  in  the  reins,  slackened  old 
Sally's  trot  to  a  walk,  and  was  waiting — if  the  truth  must  be 
told — with  my  heart  in  my  mouth,  while  I  endeavored  to  look 
as  innocent  as  I  conveniently  could,  to  see  the  upshot  of  this 
most  unwelcome  visitation.  Judge,  then,  how  great  was  my  re- 
lief, when  I  beheld  the  two  horsemen,  who  had  by  this  time 
galloped  up  to  within  twenty  cr  thirty  yards  of  our  vehicle, 
tighten  their  bridles,  and  come  to  a  sudden  halt ;  at  the  same 
time,  lifting  their  hats,  as  they  assured  me,  with  a  very  killing 
low,  that  they  really  begged  our  pardon  for  disturbing  us:  which, 
had  their  people  only  known  that  none  but  ladies  were  in  the 
buggy,  would  never  have  occurred. 

"  To  this  very  gratifying  piece  of  intelligence,  they  added  some- 
thing about  having  thought,  when  they  first  caught  sight  of  us, 
that  there  was  a  gentleman  too,  in  which  case,  the  very  strict 
orders  they  had  received,  in  relation  to  stopping  and  arresting 
every  suspicious  person,  would  have  made  it  necessary  for 
them  to  question  him.  To  all  this,  we,  of  course,  said  just 
as  much,  in  the  way  of  bows,  wreathed  smiles,  and  such  like 
courtesies,  as  possible,  without  trusting  ourselves  to  words. 
I  suppose  we  must  have  looked  frightened,  for  the  Border-Ruf- 
fians— and  these  certainly  were  very  nice  Ruffians — made  their  fare- 
well salutations,  wheeled  their  horses,  and  were  off  to  rejoin  their 
party,  leaving  my  companion  and  myself,  very  much  to  our  de- 
light, to  pursue  our  way  unmolested.    Upon  looking  back,  a 


SWELLED  OUT  AWFUL. 


275 


short  time  afterwards,  we  saw  them  in  the  distance,  all  busily 
engaged  in  overhauling  the  unlucky  urchin  who  had  charge  of 
the  ox-team  and — what  was  to  us  a  matter  of  very  considerable 
anxiety,  our  additional  package  of  rifle  caps.  But  the  Free 
State  juvenile's  detention  was  a  short  one,  for  we  had  the  satis- 
faction to  see  the  Missourians  file  off,  while  he  of  the  ox-cart 
cracked  his  whip,  as  he  urged  the  lazy  cattle  upon  their  road  to 
town.  He  entered  Lawrence  that  evening,  and  delivered  his 
package  of  caps,  a  little  rumpled  to  be  sure,  but  all  right,  never- 
theless. We  have  never  yet,  however,  been  able  to  discover  in 
what  manner  he  concealed  them,  while  undergoing  this  inspection 
upon  the  road,  for,  in  answer  to  all  cur  questions,  the  younster 
only  laughed,  blushed  a  little,  and  when  still  more  closely 
pressed,  hung  down  his  head  and  said  nothing." 

We  afterwards  discovered  that  the  young  gentleman  alluded 
to,  had  deposited  the  package — upon  first  perceiving  the  ap- 
proach of  the  Missourians — inside  the  seat  of  his  voluminous 
pantaloons,  which  may,  perhaps,  very  naturally,  account  for  his 
diffidence  when  so  closely  questioned  by  the  ladies. 

A  Western  Free  State  man,  who  saw  the  heroines  making  their 
triumphant  entry  into  Lawrence,  upon  their  return  from  this  ad- 
venturous trip,  speaks  thus  of  the  personal  appearance  of  these 
perambulating  Free  State  arsenals  : — 

"  Stranger,  when  I  saw  them  wimin  a  comin'  inter  this  hyar 
town,  I  jest  allowed  that  bustles  hed  come  inter  fashion  agin, 
for  they  wor  swelled  out  awful  P\ 


2?6 


WE  DEFINE  OTJR  POSITION. 


CHAPTER  XXIX 

THE  FREE  STATE  SIDE  OF  THE  QUESTION. 

We  had  an  interview  this  afternoon  with  General  Charles 
Robinson,  who  is  by  far  the  most  influential  leader  of  the  Free 
State  movement  in  Kansas  ;  there  were  moreover  two  other  per- 
sons present,  who  are  also  deep  in  the  counsels  of  that  party. 
Our  object  in  seeking  this  interview  was  to  notify  these  gentle- 
men formally  of  the  purpose  with  which  we  had  visited  Kansas, 
of  the  duties  intrusted  to  us,  and  of  the  manner  in  which  we 
purposed  (as  the  fairest  that  could  be  adopted),  to  pursue  our 
investigations  in  re  Kansas  and  the  war.  We,  therefore,  said 
plainly  that  we  were  duly  accredited  by  the  "  New  York 
Herald,"  as  their  Kansas  correspondent ;  in  proof  of  which  we 
exhibited  our  credentials  from  the  editor  of  that  paper.  We 
then  informed  the  General  that  we  had  already  taken  a  peep  at 
the  Pro-Slavery  version  of  the  war,  through  the  medium  of  sun- 
dry statements,  official  documents,  affidavits,  and  such  like, 
which  we  had  obtained  from  his  Excellency,  Governor  Shannon, 
and  others  of  that  persuasion,  whom  we  regarded  as  reliable 
men  ;  in  speaking  of  which,  we  very  frankly  admitted  that  the 
Pro-Slavery  people  had  not  only  taken  some  little  pains  to  post 
us  up,  but  so  fur  as  we  were  competent  to  judge,  had  made  out 
a  very  pretty  case  for  their  side  into  the  bargain.  We  finally 
intimated  to  tho  General  and  his  compatriots,  that  as  we  desired 


TRUTH  AXD  BREVITY. 


277 


to  M  do  justice  to  all  men,"  we  would  spend  eight  days,  and  if 
necessary  even  more  time,  in  Lawrence,  and  devote  ourself,  dur- 
ing that  period,  to  getting  up  the  Free  State  History  of  the 
Wakarusa  War  in  as  readable  a  form  as  our  poor  abilities  would 
permit,  and  at  the  conclusion  of  our  labors,  give  their  story 
to  the  world,  or  if  need  be,  in  the  summing  up,  argue  their 
cause  before  the  jury  of  Public  Opinion  ;  not  as  a  lawyer  who 
has  taken  a  fee,  but  as  an  upright  judge,  who  permits  no  con- 
sideration of  personal  interest  to  "  sully  the  purity  of  his  ermine." 
But,  gentlemen,  added  we,  we  cannot  do  this  thing  unaided  ; 
we  must  ask,  not  only  your  co-operation  but  your  suggestions  ; 
for  while  we  are  willing  to  take  down  and  write  out  your  testi- 
mony, we  do  not  feel  that  it  is  our  business  to  obtain  your  wit- 
nesses ;  so  we  notify  you  now,  that  if  you  have  any  evidence 
you  may  desire  printed,  we  shall  expect  you  to  send  those  whose 
testimony  you  wish  recorded,  to  us  ;  and  furthermore,  if  we 
might  be  permitted  to  make  the  suggestion,  let  us  have  nothing 
but  facts,  which  if  denied  can  be  sustained  by  proof.  We  want 
neither  suppositions,  rumor,  personalities,  nor  party  abuse,  but 
simply  that  which  is  said  to  lie  in  the  bottom  of  a  well  (and  we 
are  free  to  confess,  by  the  way,  that  it  must  be  a  mighty  deep 
one  in  Kansas),  the  truth.  And  now,  as  a  last  word  in  your 
ear,  gentlemen,  let  us  intimate  that  "  two  good,  clean  witnesses," 
to  any  one  point  in  question,  are  quite  as  satisfactory  as  fifty  ; 
the  more  so,  as  in  this  age  of  fast  people,  where  men  live,  travel, 
eat  and  read  by  steam,  brevity  is  most  unquestionably  the  very 
soul  of  wit. 

Such  was  our  "  talk/'  or  rather  the  drift  of  it,  to  the  Free 
State  magnates,  who,  to  do  them  justice,  seemed  on  their  part 
not  only  good-natured  but  very  willing,  so  far  as  promises  went, 
to  aid  us  in  our  news-hunting  ;  and  we  can  only  say,  that  if  they 
do  so,  we  shall  honestly  endeavor  to  carry  out  our  pledge,  to 
give  the  Free  State  evidences,  so  far  as  they  may  see  fit  to  fur- 


218 


THE   MAIN  POINTS. 


nish  us  with  it,  fairly  to  the  world.  We  shall,  therefore,  intro- 
duce such  papers  as  we  may  from  time  to  time  obtain,  by  insert- 
ing them,  as  received,  into  the  pages  of  what  is  now  our  jour- 
nal of  events  in  Lawrence. 

In  presenting  the  Free  State  side  of  the  Kansas  War  qu<  5- 
tion,  we  marked  out  for  ourself  more  particularly  the  following 
points  : 

1st.  A  general  outline  of  the  events  which  led  to  and  attended 
the  so-called  "  Wakarusa  War."  This  we  proposed  to  cover,  by 
a  statement  from  General  Robinson  himself,  whose  truthfulness, 
if  we  judge  him  by  the  testimony  of  his  political  opponents, 
is  to  be  most  implicitly  relied  upon. 

2d.  To  discover  whether  the  arrest  of  Jacob  Branson  was 
properly  made  by  Sheriff  Jones,  and  to  institute  inquiries  into 
the  killing  of  Dow  by  the  man  Coleman,  with  the  Free  State 
version  of  the  difficulties  which  led  to  that  most  unfortunate 
result.  To  accomplish  this,  we  intended  getting  the  statements 
of  Branson  himself,  with  that  of  one  or  more  of  his  neigh- 
bors. 

[Note. — In  this  expectation  we  were  finally  disappointed, 
through  the  neglect  of  the  Free  State  people  to  procure  the 
presence  in  Lawrence  of  these  persons  ;  though  they  had  inti- 
mated that  they  should  come  in.] 

3d.  We  desired  to  get  at  the  real  facts  connected  with  the 
calling  together,  and  proceedings  of  certain  public  meetings, 
alleged  to  have  been  holden  in  Lawrence,  upon  the  day  follow- 
ing the  rescue  of  Branson,  and  which  are  said  to  have  endorsed 
his  recapture. 

[Note. — For  these  matters  see  portions  of  General  Robinson's 
narrative,  as  also  Miller's  and  Bercaw's  statements.] 

4th.  To  verify  or  prove  false  the  Pro-Slavery  version  of  the 
circumstances  attending  the  rescue  of  Jacob  Branson  from  the 
Sheriff  of  Douglas  County  and  his  posse. 


SEVEN  IN  A  BED. 


279 


[Note. — For  such  Free  State  information  as  we  were  enabled 
to  gather  upon  this  subject,  we  must  refer  the  reader  to  Ber- 
caw's  statement,  and  also  to  passages  in  the  narrative  of  General 
Robinson.] 

5th.  To  inquire  particularly  into  the  circumstances  attending 
the  killing  of  the  Free  State  man,  Thomas  W.  Barber,  and 
if  possible  procure  the  evidence  of  those  who  were  with  him 
when  the  homicide  took  place. 

[Note. — See  statements  of  Robert  F.  Barber,  the  brother, 
and  Thomas  M.  Peirson,  the  brother-in-law,  of  the  deceased,  with 
extract  from  Dr.  Ainsworth  attached.] 

From  this  time  forth  our  news-gathering  work  commenced 
in  earnest,  and  for  the  difficulties  under  which  it  was  prosecuted, 
we  would  refer  your  curiosity  to  the  facts  that  we  were  obliged 
to  pursue  our  labors  in  that  "  one  common  room"  of  the  ill-regu- 
lated hotel,  already  alluded  to  ;  where,  with  a  hot  stove  at 
our  back,  and  a  Bedlam  of  disturbance  in  our  ears,  we  scribbled 
up  our  daily  gleanings,  and  from  which,  when  the  hour  of  ten 
p.  m.  came  round,  we  were  forced  to  retire — willing  or  unwill- 
ing— to  our  airy  (half  the  windows  were  broken),  sleeping-room 
above,  where  we  slept  if  we  could,  in  company  with  just  six  peo- 
ple ;  it  seems  proper,  by  the  way,  to  inform  the  reader  that  the 
seven  did  not,  however,  all  occupy  the  same  bed. 

January  3d,  Evening. — Scene — that  general  sitting-room — 
the  politicians,  seven  in  number,  all  assembled,  two  of  them  being 
provided  with  strong  pipes,  which  in  this  very  confined  apart- 
ment, is  almost  as  satisfactory  as  taking  a  smoke  yourself,  and 
so  far  as  the  perfume  in  your  hair  and  clothing  goes — quite ;  the 
stove — a  big  one — is  red  hot,  add  to  which  that  both  of  our 
hostesses  are  present,  and  both  talking,  the  junior  on  religion, 
and  the  senior  upon  things  in  general,  and  then  sympathize  with 
us  as  we  sit  down  to  write  quietly. 

Let  us  see  ;  what  is  there  upon  our  docket  to-day  ?    Ah  ! 


280 


A.  ROUGH  AND  TUMBLE  SET. 


here  is  Mr.  Albert  T.  Bercaw's  statement  in  regard  to  the  rescue 
of  our  old  acquaintance  upon  paper,  Mr.  Jacob  Branson — a  very 
worthy  gentleman,  we  doubt  not.  And  as  Mr.  Albert  T.  Ber- 
caw  was  what  the  dead  languages  call  a  particeps  criminis,  or 
what  in  no  less  legal  English  might  be  termed  an  accessory  after 
the  fact  (it  was  not  his  fault  that  it  was  not  before),  in  this 
recapture  business,  we  presume  that  Mr.  Bercaw  ought  to  be 
supposed  to  know  a  great  deal  about  the  affair  ;  so  we  will, 
after  this  very  solemn  preamble,  introduce  that  gentlemen,  or 
what  in  this  instance  is  quite  as  much  to  the  point — his  state- 
ment— here.  It  will  be  perceived,  too,  that  Mr.  Bercaw's  nar- 
rative treats  of  a  certain  meeting  at  Hickory  Point,  and, 
judging  from  the  amount  of  difficulty,  murder,  house-burning3, 
and  such  like  little  eccentricities,  which  have  occurred  in  this 
thinly-settled  locality,  we  are  iucliuedto  believe  that  the  Hickory 
Pointers  must  be  a  very  "  rough  and  tumble" — not  to  mention 
pugnacious — set  of  gentlemen.  But  let  us  get  back  to  Mr. 
Bercaw. 

Note. — The  following,  in  common  with  all  the  statements  of 
individuals,  which  we  have  thought  proper  to  procure,  as  ne- 
cessary to  a  full  understanding  of  the  matters  in  question,  was 
taken  down  by  our  own  hand  from  the  lips  of  the  person  named. 

STATEMENT  OF  ALBERT  T.  BERCAW,  OF  LAKE  COUNTY,  OHIO,  A  FREE  STATE 
MAN,  IN  RELATION  TO  A  MEETING  OF  THE  FREE  STATE  SETTLERS  AT 
HICKORY  POINT,  K.  T.,  AND  EVENTS  GROWING  OUT  OF  SAID  MEETING. 

I  was  present  at  a  meeting,  which  was  held  at  Hickory  Point,  on  or 
about  the  26th  of  November,  1855.  It  was  convened  to  investigate  the 
circumstances  attending  the  killing  of  C.  W.  Dow. 

This  meeting  convened  at  noon,  upon  the  spot  where  Dow  was  killed, 
and  continued  in  session  until  four,  p.  m.  Its  chairman  was  a  Free  State 
man,  named  Powell.  After  considerable  discussion,  it  was  decided  to  ap- 
point a  committee  of  seven,  whose  duty  it  should  be  to  select  twenty-fi^B 
men — whose  names  were  to  be  kept  secret — the  persons  so  selected  were  to 
act  as  a  vigilance  committee.    I  was  a  member  of  the  committee  of  seven. 


BERCAw'S  FREE  STATE  STATEMENT. 


281 


The  duties  of  the  vigilance  committee  were  thus  expressed  in  one  of  the 
resolutions  passed  at  that  time,  namely — 

"  To  ferret  out  and  bring  the  murderers  and  their  accomplices  to  condign 
punishment." 

When  this  meeting  had  adjourned,  a  few  of  its  members,  but  not  over 
fifteen  in  all,  stepped  out,  and  wished  to  call  a  party  to  burn  Coleman's 
house.  (It  is  proper  to  remark  that  Coleman's  house  was  only  a  few  rods 
distant  from  the  place  where  the  gathering  was  held.)  This  was  opposed. 
Some  one  in  the  crowd  then  called  out, 

<l  All  those  in  favor  of  ourning  Coleman's  house  form  a  line." 

Against  this  a  majority  of  the  persons  present  remonstrated ;  among 
others,  Abbot,  a  Free  State  man,  and  afterwards  one  of  the  rescuers  of 
Branson,  said,  "  Let  us  prevent  them,  if  they  should  try  to  do  it."  Indeed, 
the  opposition  was  so  strong,  that  but  two  persons  attempted  it ;  these 
climbed  over  the  fence,  and^approached  the  house,  which  had  been  deserted 
by  Coleman  and  his  family,  who  had  fled  and  taken  the  most  of  their  furni- 
ture with  them.  Upon  reaching  the  building,  one  of  the  men  clubbed  his 
Sharpe's  rifle,  and  burst  open  the  door ;  they  then  set  fire  to  some  articles 
inside,  what,  I  do  not  know,  as  I  did  not  enter  the  house,  but  remained 
with  the  crowd.  In  a  short  time  the  smoke  began  to  issue  from  the 
building,  upon  seeing  which,  those  who  were  opposed  to  the  burning  of* 
the  dwelling,  entered,  and  extinguished  the  flames  before  they  had  done 
any  very  great  damage.  I  have  since  learned  that  the  house  was  burnt 
down  that  night,  but  know  nothing  of  the  matter  myself.  The  crowd  then 
dispersed. 

As  I  was  returning  home  from  this  meeting,  I  saw  a  party  of  mounted 
men,  whom  I  supposed  to  be  Pro-Slavery  men,  riding  in  a  body  towards 
Hickory  Point.  My  suspicions  were  aroused  as  to  their  intentions ;  I  went 
therefore,  and  took  counsel  with  two  Free  State  men,  named  Abbot  and 
S.  N.  Wood ;  while  thus  engaged,  a  person,  named  Tappan — who  is  also  a 
Free  State  man — informed  us  that  the  party  which  I  had  seen  were  Sheriff 
Jones's  posse,  who  were  then  on  their  way  to  arrest  one  Jacob  Branson,  a 
Free  State  settler,  at  Hickory  Point.  Upon  learning  this,  S.  N.  Wood  and 
Abbot  obtained  horses,  mounted,  and  rode  up  to  Hickory  Point,  to  notify 
Branson  that  the  Pro-Slavery  sheriff  was  in  pursuit  of  him,  and  that  he 
would  certainly  be  arrested  if  hie  did  not  make  his  escape.  Upon  reaching 
Branson's  residence,  however,  they  discovered  that  they  had  come  too 
late  to  effect  the  object  which  brought  them  there,  as  Branson  had  already 
been  taken.    They  then  instituted  inquiries,  but  were  unable  to  ascertain 


2S2 


THE  HICKORY   POINT  RESOLUTIONS. 


in  what  direction  Sheriff  Jones's  posse  had  gone.  Messengers  were  imme- 
diately dispatched  to  alarm  the  Free  State  settlers,  and  rally  men  for  the 
rescue  of  Branson.  In  the  meanwhile,  Wood  and  Abbot  had  returned  to 
Abbot1.*  house,  where  the  party  were  to  meet,  who  intended  to  effect  a 
re-capture.  I  was  on  my  way  to  join  this  party  at  the  place  appointed,  whf  n 
I  heard  a  couple  of  shots  and  hastened  forward.  Upon  reaching  Abbot's, 
where  I  did  not  enter,  but  remained  near  the  dwelling  upon  the  outside 
I  was  told  that  Branson  had  been  rescued,  and  was  then  in  the  Louse. 
"When  I  came  up,  Sheriff  Jones  was  remonstrating  with  our  people,  and 
saying  that  he  wished  to  get  possession  of  Branson,  whom  he  claimed  as 
his  prisoner ;  he  stated,  moreover,  that  he  (Jones)  was  the  Sheriff  of  Doug- 
las County,  and  that  he  would  send  an  express  to  Governor  Shannon  for 
men  to  aid  him  in  carrying  out  the  law. 

We  had,  upon  this  occasion,  about  twenty  men;  I  don't  know  the  exact 
number ;  there  might  have  been  more.  Our  people  were  all  armed  whb 
Sharpe's  rifles.  After  the  rescue,  I  accompanied  Branson  to  Lawrence, 
and  was  present  at  a  public  meeting,  which  was  held  at  that  place,  upon 
the  ensuing  day.    This  meeting  endorsed  the  Hickory  Point  Resolutions. 

Here  follow  the  Hickory  Point  Resolutions  referred  to  : — 

PREAMBLE    AND    RESOLUTIONS    ADOPTED    BY    A    MEETING    OP    CITIZENS  AT 
HICKORY  POINT,  K.  T.,  NOVEMBER  26TH,  1855. 

Whereas,  Charles  W.  Dow,  a  citizen  of  this  place,  was  murderer!  on 
Wednesday  afternoon  last,  and  whereas,  evidence,  by  admission  and  other- 
wise,  fastens  the  guilt  of  said  murder  on  one  F.  M.  Coleman,  and  whereas, 
facts  further  indicate  that  other  parties — namely — Buckley,  Wagoner, 
Reynolds,  Hargis,  Moody  and  others,  were  implicated  in  said  murder,  and 
whereas,  facts  further  indicate  that  said  individuals  and  parties  are  com- 
bining for  the  purpose  of  harassing  and  even  murdering  unoffending  citi- 
zens, and  whereas,  we  are  now  destitute  of  law,  even  for  the  puinshniepi 
of  crime,  in  this  Territory,  and  whereas,  the  aforesaid  individuals  have  fled 
to  Missouri,  therefore — 

Resolved,  That  we  deeply  sympathize  with  the  family  and  relations  of 
the  deceased. 

Resolved,  That  we  regard  F.  M.  Coleman,  and  those  connected  with 
him,  as  wilful  murderers,  who  should  be  treated  as  such  by  all  good 
citizens. 

Resolved,  That  we  are  ready  to  stand  by  and  defend  any  and  all  of  our 
fellow-citizens,  in  protecting  their  lives  and  property ;  and  consider  it  our 


A  GOOD  AND  FAIR  CHRISTIAN. 


283 


duty  to  spare  neither  time  nor  expense  in  ferreting  out,  and  bringing  to 
condign  punishment,  all  connected  with  this  infamous  crime. 

Resolved,  That  a  vigilance  committee  of  twenty-five  be  appointed,  whose 
duty  it  shall  be  to  bring  the  above-named  individuals,  as  well  as  those 
connected  with  them  in  this  affair,  to  justice. 

Resolved,  That  we  stamp  with  disapprobation,  the  actions  of  those  per- 
sons, who  knowingly  permitted  the  body  of  the  deceased  to  lay  by  the 
roadside,  without  giving  information  in  regard  to  it. 

January  4th. — We  have  spent  the  greater  portion  of 
to-day  in  the  prosecution  of  our  Kansas  news-hunt,  in  pursu- 
ing which,  we  wandered  into  the  ''preserve"  of  a  certain  Mr. 
Christian,  we  dont  mean  a  hard  Christian  by  the  way,  but 
a  good  Christian,  who,  being  naturally  a  jovial  little  fellow,  with 
a  good-humored  face,  laughing  eye,  and  keen  appreciation  of  the 
ridiculous,  suited  us  at  first  sight,  so  we  have  fraternized  won- 
derfully, as  the  reader  may  suppose. 

We  had  not  been  very  long  in  our  little  friend's  somewhat 
diminutive  office — which  was  indeed  so  small,  that  it  quite  realized 
our  idea  of  that  cockneyism,  "  a  box  in  the  country  n — ere  we 
discovered  that  he  not  only  handled  the  pen  of  a  ready  writer, 
but  indulged  it  at  times  in  scribbling  for-  the  newspapers.  So 
we  complimented  his  style,  and  finally  managed  to  overcome  his 
diffidence,  for  we  all  know  that  the  genus  Author  is  but 
human  at  the  best,  until  at  length  we  had  persuaded  him  to  give 
us  a  peep  into  the  manuscript,  and  as  our  peep  convinced  us 
that  it  was  worth  reading,  we  will  write  him  a  preface  first,  and 
then  give  you  Mr.  Christian's  very  fair  explanation  of  the 
"Kansas  embroglio,"  for  which — Christian's  account  wo  mean, 
and  not  the  embroglio — multum  in  parvo  would  be  no  bad  head- 
ing. 

The  following  is  a  letter  addressed  to  a  member  of  the  Ken- 
tucky State  Legislature,  in  answer  to  one  requesting  information 
as  regarded  the  state  of  affairs  in  Kansas.  Its  writer,  James 
Christian,  Esq.,  is  a  citizen  of  Lawrence,  and  we  are  disposed 


284 


A  TOUCH  OF  THE  BROGUE. 


to  call  particular  attention  to  his  statements  from  these  circum- 
stances : 

Mr.  Christian  holds  an  appointment  under  the  Territorial 
government,  as  County  Clerk,  of  Douglas  County,  K.  T.  He 
is  of  the  Pro-Slavery  party,  but  withal  a  strong  union  and  con- 
servative man.  We  hear  of  him  from  the  Free  State  peopie,  u 
a  person  much  respected  by  both  parties.  He  has  been  retained 
by  Coleman  as  his  counsel  in  the  Dow  matter — is  in  favor  of 
making  Kansas  a  Slave  State — has  lived  in  Lawrence  since  the 
middle  of  March  last — has  his  family  with  him  and  intends  to 
remain  in  the  Territory — is  spoken  of  as  being  a  straightfor- 
ward, and  strictly  honorable  man — is  an  Irishman  by  birth, 
with,  to  use  his  own  expression,  "  a  slight  touch  of  the  brogue, 
and  a  considerable  taste  of  the  blarney,"  and  finally,  Mr. 
Christian  has  resided  in  the  State  of  Kentucky  for  fifteen  years, 
has  never  had  the  good  fortune  to  "  own  a  darkey,"  but  would 
like  a  couple  if  he  could  afford  that  luxury,  as  he  thinks  they 
might  be  made  useful. 

MR.  JAMES  CHRISTIAN'S  HISTORY  OF  THE  KANSAS  DISTURBANCES 

Lawrence,  K.  T.,  Jan.  1st,  1855. 

My  Dear  : 

"  I  suppose  you  have  heard  of  the  troubles  in  Kansas, 
and  read,  perhaps,  some  of  the  many  falsehoods  which  have  been 
scattered  broadcast  over  the  land.  I  have,  as  yet,  seen  nothing  in 
the  public  prints,  which  may  be  regarded  as  strictly  true,  on 
either  side  of  this  question,  for  editors  and  letter-writers  are  like 
lawyers,  very  apt  to  tell  but  one  part  of  the  story,  and  that  in 
their  own  way;  indeed,  like  the  Jews  of  old,  they  can  never  dis- 
cover the  '  beam  in  their  own  eye/  but  seek  rather  to  pull  out 
the  mote  from  their  brother's. 

"  The  true  cause  of  these  Kansas  troubles  was  not  an  arrest 
by  the  Sheriff  under  the  Territorial  law ;  it  had  its  origin  far 


NULLIFIERS,  SCAMPS,  AND  ROTTENS. 


285 


back  in  the  halls  of  Congress,  when  the  Nebraska  and  Kansas 
bills  were  passed,  when  the  Missouri  Compromise  was  declared 
null  and  void,  and  ultra  men  boasted  in  our  Legislative  Assem- 
blies, that  if  they  could  not  defeat  these  bills  in  one  way  they 
would  in  another,  and  returned  to  their  homes  to  organize  '  Emi- 
grant Aid  Societies/  and  '  Kansas  Leagues,'  with  the  avowed 
intention  of  defeating  the  objects  of  the  Kansas  Bill,  by  Abo- 
litionizing  the  Territory.  This  was  the  first  wrong,  and  it 
aroused  the  indignation  of  the  '  Fire  Eaters '  of  Western  Mis- 
souri, whom  Benton,  in  his  peculiar  manner,  styles  nullifiers, 
scamps,  and  rottens;  these  were  headed  by  such  men  as  Atchin- 
son,  B.  F.  Stringfellow,  C.  F.  Jackson,  Col.  S.  A.  Young,  with 
others  of  lesser  note,  but  all  tried  soldiers  of  the  Anti- Benton 
campaigns,  from  1849  to  1855,  when  Atchinson  was  beaten  as 
Senator. 

"  When  the  first  election  in  Kansas  (for  delegate)  came  on, 
these  gentlemen  called  out  the  Pro-Slavery  forces,  and  marched 
their  men  into  the  Territory  to  cast  their  votes  for  Whitfield. 
This  was  done  to  counteract  the  influence  of  the  Boston  Aid 
Societies  and  Kansas  Leagues,  already  alluded  to.  This  might 
have  been  all  well  or  ill  enough,  if  the  evil  had  stopped  here,  as 
the  Free  Soilers,  when  they  came  in,  ruled  it  with  a  high  hand  ; 
in  many  instances  treating  the  Pro-Slavery  and  Western  settlers 
with  the  grossest  injustice,  by  driving  them  from  their  improve- 
ments, or  cutting  their  timber  before  their  eyes,  at  the  same  time 
bidding  them  defiance,  as  they  (the  Yankees)  'had  the  power, 
and  meant  to  take  the  country.'  This  it  was  that  prompted  the 
Pro-Slavery  and  Western  men  to  seek  protection  from  their 
friends  in  Missouri,  who,  to  do  them  justice,  were  as  zealous  in 
giving  assistance  as  they  were  prompt  to  ask  it.  Things  were 
in  this  condition  when  the  spring  elections  came  ou  for  members 
of  the  Council  and  House  of  Representatives.  This  took  place 
on  the  30th  of  March,  1855,  and  the  people  of  Missouri,  de- 


286 


BOWIE-KNIFES,   PISTOLS  AND  WHISKY. 


lighted  with  their  success  at  the  fall  election,  came  in  with 
renewed  vigor  to  the  Kansas  ballot-boxes,  bringing  with  them 
an  ample  supply  of  their  favorite  institutions — bowie-knifes,  pis- 
tols and  whisky — to  the  great  terror  of  the  Yankees — noi  to 
mention  the  trepidation  of  the  liege  subjects  of  Her  Majesty 
Queen  Yictoria.  But  to  contiuue,  the  Ides  of  March  came 
on,  and  the  30th  of  that  month  is  a  day  long  to  be  remem- 
bered in  the  history  of  this  Territory.  Missouri  poured  ia 
her  citizens  to  the  number  of  some  five  or  six  thousand 
men,  who  carried  the  election,  and  returned  every  Pro-Slavery 
candidate  in  the  field  by  overwhelming  majorities  ;  thus  securing 
every  member  of  both  houses  of  the  Kansas  Legislature.  To 
effect  this,  they  in  some  instances  replaced  the  judges  of  election, 
appointed  by  Governor  Reeder,  by  substituting  men  of  their 
own  principles.  It  is  but  just,  however,  to  state  that  they 
chose  for  this  purpose  bona  fide  residents  of  Kansas,  which  the 
Governor's  proclamation  permitted,  inasmuch  as  it  gave  author- 
ity to  the  electors,  in  case  any  judge  should  refuse  to  serve,  to 
elect  another  to  fill  his  place.  The  judges  alluded  to  were  N.  B. 
Blanton  and  James  B.  Abbot,  of  the  1st  District.  (See 
Governor  Reeder's  proclamation -of  the  8th  March,  1855.)  The 
judges,  so  substituted,  disregarded  the  instructions  of  the  Execu- 
tive, in  striking  out  the  word  '  legal '  from  their  certificates  of 
election.    This  was  their  first  great  wrong." 

Note. — Though  not  embraced  in  this  letter,  our  informant  has 
given  your  correspondent  so  graphic  a  description  of  this  elec- 
tion and  its  attendings,  as  it  was  carried  on  in  the  Lawrence 
District,  that  we  have  requested  him  to  describe  it  for  the 
amusement,  and  it  may  be  instruction  of  our  New  York  politicians. 
I  mean  those  of  the  hard  shell  rough-and-ready  order. 

Mr.  Christian's  account  runs  thus  : 


MISSOURI  AT  THE  KANSAS  POLLS. 


287 


"  Upon  the  morning  of  the  30th  of  March,  a  clear  sunshiny 
day,  the  voters  of  Lawrence  District  began  assembling  about  the 
door  of  the  polls,  which  was  held  in  a  small  log  shanty,  quite  a 
one-horse  affair,  situated  upon  the  outskirts  of  the  city  of 
Lawrence.  In  the  mean  time,  the  invading  army  of  Missouri 
voters,  who  had  arrived  the  day  before,  to  the  number  of 
some  eight  or  nine  hundred  men,  were  encamped  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  polls.  At  9  a.  m.,  the  hour  appointed  for  the  opening 
of  the  polls,  the  Missourians,  well  armed,  walked  down  to  the 
one-horse  shanty,  before  alluded  to.  Their  leader,  Young,  then 
took  the  oath  required  by  the  judges  of  election.  To  avoid  the 
rush,  and  prevent  unnecessary  crowding,  the  Missourians  then 
formed  a  line  some  hundred  yards  in  length,  on  either  side  of  the 
shanty  window,  in  which  the  voters  were  to  deposit  their  ballots. 
Through  this  alley-way  the  voters  passed  in  ;  but  as  the  living 
stream  was  for  some  time  continuous,  and  a  retreat  through  the 
lane  impossible,  it  became  necessary  to  adopt  some  plan  by 
which  to  get  rid  of  the  voter  after  he  had  been  polled.  This 
was  no  easy  matter  ;  but,  as  a  happy  expedient,  it  was  at 
length  determined  to  hoist  each  polled  man  upon  the  roof  of  the 
shanty,  where  he  seized  hold  of  the  shingles  and  thus  assisted 
himself  over  until  he  had  gained  the  other  side,  from  whence  a 
second  jump  brought  him  in  safety  to  the  ground,  leaving  him  at 
liberty  to  supply  the  place  of  some  friend  who  had  not  yet 
voted.  The  vote  thus  polled  in  the  Lawrence  District  was  up- 
wards of  one  thousand,  of  which  two  hundred  and  twenty-five 
were  Free  Soil  and  the  balance  Pro-Slavery. 

"  The  Free  Soilers  were  so  utterly  confounded  by  this  very  ener- 
getic action  on  the  part  of  the  Missourians,  that  they  neglected — 
except  in  some  three  or  four  instances — to  send  in  their  protests 
in  proper  time,  that  is  to  say,  before  the  Governor  (Reeder)  had 
given  certificates  to  the  persons  so  elected.  The  Pro- Slavery 
party  had  therefore  a  majority  of  two-thirds  in  each  House  of 


288 


THE   ROMULCSES   OF  KANSAS. 


the  Legislature,  where  they  could,  and  did,  do  as  they  pleased 
with  the  members  returned  at  the  second  election,  which  was 
held  in  May,  in  accordance  with  the  Governor's  (Reeder's)  pro- 
clamation, and,  as  was  anticipated,  ousted  the  Free  Soil  mem- 
bers from  their  seats.    This  was  another  outrage. 

"This  Legislature — styled  Bogus,  by  the  Free  Soil  party — met, 
in  accordance  with  the  Governor's  proclamation,  at  Pawnee,  a 
paper  city  on  the  extreme  verge  of  civilization,  with  no  house  to 
shelter  them  from  the  inclemency  of  the  weather.  I  was  present, 
and  shall  never  forget  the  first  meeting  of. the  Kansas  Legisla- 
ture ;  for  to  me,  at  least,  it  was  a  most  novel  sight  to  see  grave 
council-men  and  brilliant  orators  of  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives cooking  their  food  by  the  side  of  a  log,  or  sleeping  on  a 
buffalo-robe  in  the  open  air,  with  the  broad  canopy  of  heaven 
for  a  covering. 

"  During  this  meeting  of  the  Legislature  at  Pawnee,  we  hac! 
several  severe  showers,  and  it  was  amusing  enough  to  behold 
these  Romuluses  of  Kansas,  as  they  scampered,  with  their  beds 
upon  their  backs — like  an  Irish  pedlar — to  some  new  houses  which 
boasted  neither  window  nor  door,  and  kept  out  but  illy  the 
pelting  storm.  There  were  but  two  things  in  abundance  at 
Pawnee — rocky  mounds  and  highly-rectified  whisky. 

"  Being  fairly  drowned  out,  the  Legislature  at  length 
adjourned  to  Shawnee  Mission,  whereupou  the  Governor 
vetoed  the  Bill  ;  this  was  the  final  rupture  between  the 
Governor  and  the  Legislature;  then  came  the  tug  of  war. 
Both  parties  from  this  moment  broke  out  into  open  hosti- 
lity. The  Governor  and  his  Free-Soil  friends  repudiated  the 
Legislature  and  its  acts,  and  bid  defiance  to  both  ;  they  spoke 
of  it  as  the  Missouri  Bogus  Legislature.  The  Legislature,  on 
their  part,  were  not  slow  to  retaliate;  they  racked  their  inge- 
nuity to  insult  and  aggravate  the  Free  Soil  party,  and  if 
possible  widen  the  breach  already  existing  between  the  two  con- 


THE   SO-CALLED  BOGUS  LEGISLATURE. 


289 


tending  factions,  for  I  can  scarcely  dignify  with  the  name  of 
party  those  who  condescend  to  such  a  petty  warfare  as  exists 
between  the  Kansas  agitators.  The  Legislature,  in  the  first 
place,  memorialized  President  Pierce  to  remove  Governor  Reeder, 
which  was  done,  but  avowedly  for  another  office,  the  Kaw  Land 
speculation.  They  then  attempted  to  padlock  the  mouths  of  the 
Free  toilers  by  preventing  their  expressing  an  opinion  as  to 
the  right  of  individuals  to  hold  slaves  in  Kansas  Territory. 
Their  next  move  was  to  appoint  officers  to  put  this  padlock  on, 
or  in  other  words  to  execute  their  laws,  and  as  most  of  the  mem- 
bers lived  in  Missouri,  it  was  no  very  singular  thing  that  they 
had  friends  to  reward  in  that  State,  who  were  patriotic  enough 
to  ''move  into  Kansas"  if  they  could  get  an  office  there;  this 
several  of  them  did,  and  accordingly  came  into  the  Territory 
with  their  commissions  in  their  pockets.  In  due  time  the  Legis- 
lature closed  this,  their  labor  of  love,  and  returned  to  the  bosom 
of  their  families,  with  their  well-earned  pay  in  their  pockets,  with 
which  to  improve  their  farms  in  Jackson  and  other  counties  of 
Missouri. 

"The  Free  Soilers  now  took  the  field  in  earnest,  by  holding 
conventions,  passing  resolutions,  and  listening  to  inflammatory 
appeals  to  the  worst  passions  of  their  nature,  to  resist  even  unto 
death  the  enactments  of  the  Kansas  quasi  Legislature.  Things 
went  on  thus  until  the  26th  of  November,  1855,  when  a 
warrant  was  issued  by  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and  put  into  the 
hands  of  the  sheriff  of  Douglas  County,  for  service.  The  sheriff 
was  met  by  a  body  of  armed  men  and  his  prisoner — one  Jacob 
Branson — rescued.  The  rescuers  then  brought  Branson  into 
the  town  of  Lawrence,  during  the  night,  where  their  drum  beat 
to  arms,  and  by  eight  next  morning  a  town  meeting  was  called, 
and  a  committee  of  safety  appointed,  to  take  measures  accord- 
ingly. From  this  moment  our  troubles  began  in  earnest — Sheriff 
Jones  sent  an  express  to  Governor  Shannon  for  aid  ft)  protect 

13 


290 


SO  MOTE  IT  BE. 


him  in  carrying  out  the  laws.  In  the  mean  time  the  Goyernor 
issued  his  proclamation  calling  out  the  militia  to  enforce  the 
laws.  Others  sent  runners  into  Missouri,  for  assistance  to  aid  the 
militia,  and  by  Saturday,  Dec.  1st,  the  forces  on  both  si.les 
began  to  arrive  in  great  numbers.  The  Free  Soilers  flocked  to 
Lawrence,  the  militia  to  Lecompton,  and  the  Missourians  10  the 
Wakarusa  camp.  The  Free  Soilers  were  occupied  from  the  1st 
to  the  8th  of  Dec.  in  throwing  up  breastworks  to  defend  the 
place.  All  work  and  business  was  suspended,  and  martial  law 
ruled  supreme. 

"  Picket  guards  were  sent  out  every  night  to  observe  the 
army  of  invasion.  Prisoners  were  taken  on  both  sides — the 
allied,  or  Pro-Slavery  army,  examined  and  pressed  whatever 
came  in  their  way;  even  the  United  States  mail  was  detained 
and  stopped  upon  the  road  ;  in  fact,  all  communication  with 
Lawrence  was  cut  off  on  the  side  nearest  the  State  Line.  On 
Friday  evening,  Dec.  7th,  an  express  was  sent  to  Governor 
Shannon,  who  visited  our  town  and  inquired  into  the  state  of 
affairs,  and  acknowledged  that  he  had  been  greatly  deceived  as 
to  the  position  of  the  citizens  of  Lawrence.  His  Excellency 
finally  concluded  a  treaty  of  peace  with  the  officers  of  the  Free 
Soil  army,  by  which  it  was  understood  that  there  was  to  be  no 
more  forcible  resistance  to  the  law,  but  all  should  have  their  legal 
remedy  through  the  courts.  Thus  ended  the  Kansas  war. 
The  sheriff,  Jones,  has  made  several  arrests  since  the  compro- 
mise without  interruption,  and  a  better  feeling  seems  to  prevail. 
So  mote  it  be. 

"  Now,  in  justice  to  the  people  of  Lawrence,  I  must  say  that  a 
large  and  respectable  portion  of  this  community  did  not  endorse 
the  acts  of  the  rescuers  of  Branson,  nor  did  they  countenance  an 
armed  resistance  to  the  law.  This  spirit  of  lawlessness  came 
from  the  rabble  as  a  general  thing — or  the  most  notorious  Aboli- 
tionists.   I  have  lived  among  these  people  for  the  last  ten  mouths, 


THE  TWO  WHO  DIDN'T  FIGHT. 


291 


and  have  heard  most  of  their  speakers,  and  have  listened  to  but 
two  who  advocated  an  armed  resistance,  and  neither  of  those  were 
here  upon  the  day  of  the  disturbance.  I  do  not  say  that  they 
were  frightened,  but  they  had  business  which  unfortunately  took 
them  away  just  at  that  time. 

"  Though  the  Free  State  men  deny  the  legality  of  the  acts  of 
the  so-called  Bogus  Legislature,  and  are  determined  to  resist 
them  to  the  death,  they  are  not  prepared  to  adopt  the  ridiculous 
alternative  of  preventing  the  execution  of  their  enactments — un- 
less by  a  legal  process  through  some  regularly  established  Court 
of  Justice.  It  was  the  threats  of  the  Missourians  which  induced 
the  people  of  Lawrence  to  fortify  their  town,  and  organize  them- 
selves as  a  military  force: — they  did  not,  therefore,  desire  to  bid 
defiance  to  the  law,  but  to  defend  their  lives  and  property  from 
anticipated  violence." 

And  so  endeth  the  narrative  of  this  Pro-Slavery  Christian. 
We  have  read  it  over  to  several  of  our  Lawrence  Free  State 
friends,  who  seem  to  consider  it  a  very  impartial  document — the 
only  passage  excepted  to  being  that  in  relation  to  the  want  of 
accommodations  for  the  Kansas  Legislature,  while  in  session  at 
Pawnee,  in  regard  to  which  our  Free  State  informants  affirm 
that  there  were  some  houses  there,  and  that  if  the  Kansas  Legis- 
lature, or  to  speak  more  correctly,  its  components,  had  really 
wished  to  obtain  "  board  and  lodging,"  they  could  have  found 
both,  either  at  Pawnee,  or  within  a  very  short  distance  of  that 
place;  but  it  is  alleged  that  the  "  Missouri  Bogus  Legislature," 
as  the  good  people  here  delight  to  designate  that  august  body, 
rather  preferred  to  play  at  camping  out,  until  the  "  severe  showers'* 
came,  with  "  healing  in  their  wings,"  to  give  these  Romuluses  of 
Kansas,  as  Christian  calls  them,  a  reasonable  excuse  for  trans- 
ferring the  scene  of  their  deliberations  from  Pawnee  to  Shawnee 
Mission,  which,  as  the  reader  will  perceive,  was,  so  far  as  the 
names  of  the  places  are  concerned,  a  mere  matter  of  moonshine, 


292 


PAWNEE. 


insomuch  as  there  is  only  a  difference  of  two  letters.  Having 
never  seen  Pawnee  ourselves — though  if  it  be  less  endurable  than 
the  Mission,  it  must  be  comfortless  indeed — we  are  rejoiced  to  ?ay 
that  we  caunot  throw  any  light  upon  the  matter  in  dispute.  Nor 
would  we  if  we  could — for  we  haven't  made  up  our  mind  upon 
the  Kansas  question  yet,  and  don't  intend  to — at  least  upon 
paper;  for  our  object  in  writing  this  book — besides  its  purely 
selfish  ones — is  to  give  the  facts,  and  then  leave  that  sagacious 
individual,  the  reader,  whoever  he  may  be,  to  form  opinions  for 
himself.  So  "  pitch  in"  either  way,  gentlemen  politicians,  Pro- 
Slavery  or  Free  Soil,  as  your  fancy  leads  you,  and  may  the 
printers'  devil,  or  whatever  other  saint  watches  over  the  destinies 
of  scribblers,  forbid  that  we — the  author — should  pen  one  line 
that  might  bias  your  inclinations — "  av'  they  be  vartuous." 


FROM  THE  VERY  BEST  AUTHORITY. 


293 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

THE  FREE  STATE  COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. 

January. — We  have  been  favored  by  a  long  conversation 
upon  Kansas  matters  to-day,  with  Major  General  Charles  Robin- 
son, the  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Free  State  army — or  Kansas 
Volunteers,  to  call  them  by  their  legitimate  appellation — and 
as  this  gentleman  has  very  kindly  furnished  us  with  a  history — 
the  Free  State  version  of  course — of  these  unhappy  disturbances 
between  our  fellow-citizens  of  Kansas  and  Missouri,  we  will  in- 
troduce it'  here,  premising,  as  we  do  so,  that  we  believe  this 
statement  to  be  well  worthy  of  attention,  for  we  have  written  it 
down  word  for  word  from  the  General's  own  lips,  and  we  are 
free  to  confess,  that  there  is  no  politician,  upon  either  side,  in  the 
Territory,  who  bears  a  higher  reputation,  among  both  friends 
and  foes,  for  personal  integrity,  and  undoubted  veracity,  than 
does  Major  General  Charles  Robinson. 

MAJOR  GENERAL  ROBINSON'S  HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 

"  In  the  month  of  November  last,  a  rumor  reached  Lawrence 
that  a  man  named  Dow,  a  settler  at  Hickory  Point,  some  ten 
miles  distant  from  that  place,  had  been  killed  by  one  Coleman, 
without  provocation  on  the  part  of  Dow.  It  was  also  reported 
that  no  attempt  had  been  made,  nor  would  be  made,  to  arrest 
the  murderer;  and,  moreover,  that  a  number  of  the  settlers  at 


204 


A  FREE  STATE  HISTORY  OF  THE  "WAR. 


Hickory  Point  had  called  a  meeting  to  take  the  matter  into 
consideration — at  which,  one  or  more  citizens  of  Lawrence  were 
present.  Certain  resolutions  were  passed,  in  reference  to  brii  <.■•- 
ing  Coleman  to  justice.  After  this  meeting  was  dissolved,  and 
as  the  Hickory  Point  settlers  were  returning  to  their  homes  in 
the  evening,  it  was  discovered  that  a  party  were  in  pursuit  of  01  e 
Jacob  Branson,  a  resident  of  that  neighborhood,  with  whom 
Dow  had  lived.  Fearing  that  he  would  be  '  lynched/  the  Hickory 
Point  settlers  determined  to  ascertain  the  real  purpose  of  this 
intended  arrest.  While  engaged  in  taking  council  upon  this 
subject,  a  party  of  some  fifteen  men,  who  had  assembled  near 
the  house  of  Mr.  Abbot,  at  Blanton's,  saw  an  equal  number,  or 
thereabouts,  of  horsemen  advancing  towards  them,  whereupon 
they  hailed  this  party,  who  had  halted,  and  inquired  if  one 
Branson  was  with  them,  to  which  Branson  replied  that  he  was, 
and  a  prisoner.  The  Free  State  or  Hickory  Point  men  thefl 
directed  Branson  to  leave  those  whom  he  was  with,  and  come 
over  to  them,  which  he  accordingly  did.  The  rescuing  party 
then  came  with  Branson  to  Lawrence,  arriving  in  the  night. 
The  drum  was  beaten,  and  a  gathering  held,  without  formal 
notice,  in  School  House  hall,  at  about  eight  o'clock  a.  m.  of  the  day 
following  Branson's  arrest.  Here  the  incidents  as  they  occurred 
were  related  by  Branson  and  others  of  the  rescuing  party.  I 
was  not  aware  of  this  assemblage  being  held  (Dr.  Robinson 
resides  upon  the  bluff,  which  is  nearly  half  a  mile  distant  from 
the  main  body  of  the  town),  and  did  not,  therefore,  attend  until 
near  its  close.  After  hearing  the  speakers,  the  meeting  appointed 
a  committee  of  ten  persons,  of  which  I  was  one,  to  examine  into 
the  matter,  and  report  the  course  which,  under  the  circumstance  s 
was  most  proper  to  be  pursued.  Another  committee  of  three 
was  also  appointed  to  wait  upon  Judge  Cameron,  then  resid 
in  Lawrence,  who  had  issued  the  warrant  upon  which  Bran  do 
bad  been  arrested,  and  inquire  by  what  authority  he  had  done 


GENERAL   ROBINSON  COUNSELS  PRUDENCE.  295 

so.  At  the  close  of  the  meeting  I  was  called  upon  to  speak,  and 
accordingly  made  some  remarks  to  the  effect  that  we  should  not 
array  ourselves  against  the  laws  of  the  United  States  in  any- 
thing that  we  might  do.  I  counselled  prudence  generally.  The 
meeting  continued  in  session  until  noon,  and  then  adjourned  to 
re-convene  at  two  o'clock,  p.  m.,  and  receive  the  reports  of  the 
committees.  Upon  rendering  these,  the  Committee  of  ten  stated, 
that  the  citizens  of  Lawrence  and  its  vicinity  were  without  the 
protection  of  law,  and  in  view  of  this  circumstance,  proposed  the 
immediate  enrollment  of  all  such  persons  as  were  willing  to  arm 
themselves  in  the  defence  of  law  and  order;  they  furthermore 
recommended  the  appointment  of  a  standing  Committee  of  ten, 
to  be  styled  the  Committee  of  Public  Safety.  This  report  was 
adopted,  and  the  Committee  of  ten,  already  selected,  were  ac- 
cordingly appointed  members  of  this  standing  committee.  The 
committee  of  three  reported  that  they  had  obtained  an  interview 
with  Judge  Cameron,  who  stated  that  he  acted  in  the  matter  of 
Branson's  arrest  by  virtue  of  authority  vested  in  him  by  the 
Territorial  Legislature.  This  closed  the  acts  of  the  meeting. 
The  Committee  of  Public  Safety  then  organized,  by  selecting  one 
of  their  number — myself — to  act  as  the  Military  Commander  of 
the  Free  State  army,  in  case  of  an  attack,  which  was  then  con- 
fidently expected,  for  it  was  currently  reported  that  the  town  of 
Lawrence  had  been  threatened  with  demolition  by  the  Mis- 
sourians.  I  wras  the  presiding  officer  of  the  committee,  but  not 
the  chairman.  The  committee  then  proceeded  to  take  action  by 
enrolling  such  persons — citizens  of  Lawrence  and  its  vicinity — as 
were  willing  to  serve.  I  cannot  recollect  the  number,  whose 
names  were  given  in  at  that  time.  We  finally  enrolled  eight 
hundred,  and  could  have  brought  one  thousand  fighting  men  into 
the  field,  in  case  of  an  attack.  These  enrolled  men  were  all 
trmed  with  Sharpe's  rifles,  or  shot  guns,  and  were  well  supplied 
vith  ammunition — many  had  pistols — those  not  enrolled  were 


206 


THE  FREE  STATE  KANSAS  VOLUNTEERS. 


for  the  most  part  armed  with  some  kind  of  weapon.    "We  had, 

moreover,  cannon." 

(Meaning,  as  we  have  since  learned  from  another  source,  a 
mounted  howitzer,  with  one  hundred  rounds  of  Shrapnell  shot. 
The  first  organization  of  these  men,  as  we  have  been  informed, 
by  G.  P.  Lowrey,  Esq.,  the  chairman  of  the  Committee  oa 
Public  Safety,  was  into  squads  of  fifteen  or  twenty  men,  under 
the  command  of  captains;  these  were  afterwards  changed,  as 
recruits  came  in,  into  companies,  and  organized  into  a  regiment 
of  infantry,  under  the  command  of  Col.  J.  H.  Lane,  who  finaWy, 
when  another  regiment  was  added,  was  made  a  Brigadier 
General,  and  placed  in  command — under  Major  General  Rob- 
inson— of  the  1st  Brigade  of  Kansas  Yolunteers.  Mr.  Lowrey 
also  states,  that  the  number  at  present  enrolled  is  between  eight 
hundred  and  one  thousand  men,  of  whom  eight  hundred  are 
armed  with  Sharpe's  rifles,  the  remainder  being  provided  with 
western  rifles,  or  double-barrelled  shot-guns;  there  is  also  a  com- 
pany of  mounted  men,  TO  in  all,  armed  with  revolvers  and 
sabres,  or  in  lieu  of  these,  pikes  with  scythe  or  sabre-blades 
attached,  which  were  carefully  sharpened). 

"  From  the  time  of  the  formation  of  this  Committee  of  Public 
Safety,  the  Pro-Slavery. forces  began  to  accumulate  from  Missouri 
and  other  quarters — their  numbers  being  variously  estimated  at 
different  times,  from  two  hundred  to  two  thousand  men. 

"  When  the  people  of  Lawrence  finally  learned  that  a  large 
force  was  collected  both  above  and  below  this  place,  and  that  an 
attack  might  be  speedily  expected,  we  commenced  fortifying  the 
place;  these  fortifications  were  earth-works,  thrown  up  by  our 
volunteers  under  the  superintendence  of  Col.  Lane.  Nor  did 
w:>,  in  the  meanwhile,  neglect  to  set  forth  our  condition,  and 
seek  aid  from  every  official  source  from  whence  it  could  be  hoped 
for.  We  sent  people  into  the  Territory  to  represent  the  condi- 
tion of  the  people  of  Lawrence.    We  applied  to  the  commanders 


THE  FREE  SOILERS  SEEK  AID.  297 

of  the  United  States  military  posts  in  Kansas,  for  the  means 
with  which  to  repel  these  Missourian  marauders,  who  were  even 
then  threatening  our  town  with  destruction.  We  also  dispatched 
a  communication  to  Governor  Shannon,  to  inquire  if  these  so- 
called  militia  were  menacing  us  by  his  order,  and  if  so,  calling 
upon  him  either  to  restrain  or  remove  them  from  our  vicinity, 
or  we  should  be  compelled  to  seek  aid  from  higher  authority — 
referring  to  the  Chief  Executive  of  the  nation,  General  Pierce, 
to  whom  we  sent  a  telegraphic  dispatch  of  similar  import.  A 
memorial  was  moreover  drawn  up  and  signed,  and  a  messenger 
sent  to  lay  it  before  Congress,  and  request  an  investigation  by 
that  body  of  our  acts,  and  the  causes  which  prompted  them. 
In  the  meantime,  the  Pro-Slavery  forces  continued  to  augment, 
and  committed  depredations  upon  travellers  and  the  country  gene- 
rally, by  robbing  wagons,  taking  prisoners,  interfering  with  peace- 
able travellers  upon  the  public  highway,  and  even  stopping  the 
United  States  mail.  And  in  addition  to  these  unprovoked  out- 
rages, they  showed  an  evident  disposition  to  excite  our  people  to 
acts  of  hostility,  in  firing  nightly  upon  our  picket  guards,  by 
which,  however,  as  it  fortuuately  happened,  no  one  was  hurt. 
In  the  meanwhile  the  Governor's  proclamation  made  its  appear- 
ance for  the  first  time  in  Lawrence,  how,  or  in  what  manner,  I  am 
unable  to  say.  \  No  copies  were  ever  sent  to  us  in  an  official  way, 
nor  had  any  communication  been  held  with  us  up  to  this  time, 
as  a  community,  either  by  Governor  Shannon,  Sheriff  Jones,  or 
any  other  Territorial  officer,  in  his  official  capacity.  Nor  was 
any  attempt  made  to  arrest  the  rescuers  of  Branson,  or  any 
other  person  in  Lawrence.  While  our  people  were  in  this  state 
of  ignorance  as  regarded  the  objects  and  intentions  of  the  Pro- 
Slavery  army,  one  of  our  citizens,  a  man  named  Thomas  W. 
Barber,  while  on  his  way  to  his  home,  some  five  miles  distant  from 
this  place,  was  mortally  wounded  by  two  of  the  sheriff's  posse. 
This  increased  the  excitement  among  our  volunteers  to  such  an 

13* 


298 


THE  GOVERNOR  SMILES  UPON  LAWRENCE. 


extent,  that  it  required  the  utmost  exertions  on  the  part  of  their 
officers  to  restrain  them  from  attacking  the  offending  parties 
It  was  about  this  time  that  Governor  Shannon  first  communi- 
cated with  us,  by  a  letter  dated  from  the  Executive  office  at 
Shawnee  Mission." 

[Note.— -We  have  endeavored  to  obtain  a  copy  of  this  epi  itli 
but  were  unable  to  do  so.] 

"  He  added  a  verbal  message  to  the  effect  that  he  would  talk 
with  us  in  person  soon.    This  had  an  influence  in  allaying  the 
excitement,  for  our  people  were  determined  to  forbear,  so  long  as 
there  was  any  reasonable  hope  of  coming  to  an  amicable  under- 
standing with  the  hostile  forces.    Our  next  advices  from  Governor 
Shannon  came  through  a  verbal  message  from  the  Wakarusa  camp, 
whither  his  Excellency  had  gone  to  take  the  command  of  his  army 
It  simply  informed  us  of  the  time  when  he  purposed  visiting  Law- 
rence.   We  accordingly  sent  out  an  escort  who  met  him  at  F rank- 
lin,  and  accompanied  him  into  our  town  ;  several  of  his  Pro- 
Slavery  friends  came  with  him.  Upon  his  arrival  here,  the  Gover- 
nor was  introduced  to  some  of  our  citizens,  and  then  had  a  private 
interview  with  General  Lane,  and  myself,  as  representatives  of  the 
citizens  of  Lawrence  ;  in  the  course  of  which  he  admitted  that 
there  had  been  a  misunderstanding,  and  appeared  anxious  to  get 
out  of  the  difficulty.    He  acknowledged,  moreover,  that  he  saw 
nothing  out  of  the  way,  thus  far,  in  the  course  pursued  by  the 
citizens  of  Lawrence  in  arming  themselves  for  their  defence. 
In  fact,  so  perfectly  satisfied  was  Governor  Shannon  of  the  jus- 
tice of  our  position,  that  there  was  at  this  time  no  obstacle  in 
the  way  of  an  immediate  cessation  of  hostilities,  save  this :  that 
he  feared  he  would  be  unable  to  control  his  men,  and  therefore 
desired  to  await  the  arrival  of  the  United  States  troops,  then 
momentarily  expected  from  Fort  Leavenworth.    His  Excellency 
furthermore  declared,  that  if  he  were  to  inform  his  command,  that 
rS«  (the  Governor)  had  concluded  peace  with  the  citizens  of 


MISSOURI   IS  SATISFIED  WITHOUT  FIGHTING. 


299 


Lawrence,  without  demanding  an  unconditional  surrender  of 
their  arms,  they  would  at  once  raise  the  '  Black  Flag/  and 
march  upon  the  town. 

"  After  the  termination,of  this  interview,  Governor  Shannon 
and  his  friends  remained  with  us  as  our  guests  until  late  in  the 
afternoon,  when  they  departed,  the  Governor  promising  to 
return  the  following  day  at  8  o'clock  a.  m.  He  accordingly 
reentered  Lawrence  on  the  ensuing  day,  at  a  somewhat  later 
hour  than  he  had  designated.  A  statement  mutually  agreeable 
to  both  parties  was  then  drawn  up  and  signed  by  Governor 
Shannon,  as  the  chief  Executive  of  Kansas  Territory,  on  the  one 
side,  and  Brigadier  General  J.  H.  Lane  and  myself,  as  the  Com- 
manders-in-chief of  the  patriots  of  Kansas,  on  the  other.  This 
consumed  the  day  until  4  o'clock  p.  m.  General  Lane  and 
myself,  at  the  request  of  Governor  Shannon,  then  accompanied 
him  to  Franklin,  to  meet  a  committee  of  thirteen  captains  of 
the  Pro-Slavery  army.  This  was  done,  to  satisfy  the  Governor's 
posse,  who,  as  before  intimated,  were  disposed  to  demand  an  un- 
conditional surrender  of  our  arms,  as  a  sine  qua  non  in  the  terms 
of  our  treaty.  Upon  uniting  with  this  committee,  the  Governor 
made  a  lengthy  speech,  without  apparently  satisfying  the  Mis- 
souri captains  that  he  had  done  his  duty  in  coming  to  an  nder- 
standing  with  the  citizens  of  Lawrence,  which  should  leave 
them  in  possession  of  their  arms,  or  in  a  position  for  defence. 
After  a  prolonged  and  somewhat  excited  debate,  the  stipulations, 
as  set  forth  in  our  paper  of  agreement,  were  recited,  and  a 
majority  of  the  captains  decided  that  they  had,  under  the  circum- 
stances, no  right  to  demand  our  weapons,  and  would,  therefore, 
retire  peaceably  with  their  men.  This  was  on  Saturday  night, 
(Dec.  8th.)  General  Lane  and  myself  then  invited  the  captains 
to  visit  Lawrence,  see  the  town,  and-become  acquainted  with  our 
people  :  to  which  we  added  the  assurance  that  if  they  knew  us 
better  they  would  esteem  us  more. 


300 


SHANNON  MEETS  THE  LADIES. 


"  On  the  ensuing  day,  Governor  Shannon  visited  us,  dined 
with  a  party  of  our  citizens,  and  was  introduced  to  several  of 
our  ladies.  This  was  at  the  Free  State  Hotel,  in  an  upper 
chamber  some  12  by  18  feet  in  size,  which  was  then  occupied 
by  a  committee  of  twelve  ladies  of  Lawrence,  who  had  met 
there  to  arrange  a  social  gathering,  to  take  place  on  the  follow- 
ing day  (Monday,  Dec.  10).  This  festivity  was  gotten  up  as 
a  sort  of  general  peace-demonstration,  to  be  attended  without 
distinction  of  party.  While  the  Governor  was  thus  pleasantly 
engaged  in  conversation  with  the  ladies,  it  was  reported  to  me 
that  the  disbanded  Pro-Slavery  forces  were  reorganizing  for  an 
attack  upon  the  town.  This  came  from  the  officer  of  the  guard. 
I  immediately  sought  the  Governor  and  informed  him  of  this 
rumor,  and  also  of  the  fact  that  we  were  acting  without  autho- 
rity, and  if  a  collision  should  ensue  and  any  one  be  killed,  we 
would  be  liable  to  be  tried  for  murder.  I  therefore  suggested 
to  him  the  propriety  of  giving  us  a  written  authority  to  pro- 
tect ourselves  and  the  town.  To  this  he  readily  assented,  by 
saying  that  if  I  would  draw  up  such  a  paper  he  would  sign  it, 
which  was  accordingly  done." 

And  now,  General,  said  we,  there  is  yet  another  matter,  and 
we  trust  that  your  modesty  will  not  refuse  us  a  request  which 
we  are  about  to  make  ;  you  are  a  public  character,  and  as  such, 
may  in  some  measure  be  regarded  as  public  property;  the  world 
will  soon  ask,  if  it  is  not  already  doing  so,  "  Who  is  General 
Robinson  V1  enable  us,  then,  if  you  please,  to  answer  this  ques- 
tion, by  informing  all  whom  it  may  concern  n  who  General 
Robinson  is;  or,  in  other  words,  give  us  the  necessary  data  to 
write  out  an  outline,  if  nothing  more,  of  your  previous  self,  and 
we  will  try  and  manage  your  present  without  assistance. 

Now,  it  is  only  right,— for  we  like  diffidence  in  a  great 
man,  though  brass  is,  as  a  general  thing,  much  more  highly 
appreciated, — to  state  that  this  Free  State  soldier  and  politi- 


GENERAL  ROBINSON'  CONSENTS. 


301 


cian,  yielded  with  considerable  reluctance  to  our  request,  and 
then  only  when  it  was  repeated  urgently.  But  as  we  did  obtain 
the  desired  data  from  this  distinguished  individual  we  will 
introduce  by  way  of  a  finale  to  the  present  chapter  a 

BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  MAJOR  GENERAL  CHARLES  ROBINSON. 

Charles  Robinson  was  born  in  Worcester  County,  Mass.,  on 
the  21st  of  July,  1818;  was  educated  at  Amherst  College,  but 
did  not,  we  believe,  graduate  at  that  institution  ;  studied  medi- 
cine at  the  Medical  College  in  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  where  he 
received  his  diploma  as  an  M.  D.,  in  1843;  practised  his  profes- 
sion at  Belchertown  and  Fitchburg,  in  the  same  State,  until  his 
removal  to  California  in  1849,  by  way  of  the  Rocky  Mouutaius. 
Upon  arriving  in  the  El  Dorado  of  the  West,  Dr.  Robinson  set- 
tled at  Sacramento,  where  he  played  a  prominent  part  in  the 
"squatter  riots"  of  1850,  in  which,  as  the  reader  may  perhaps 
remember,  the  Mayor  of  Sacramento,  and  some  eight  or  ten 
others,  lost  their  lives.  Upon  this  occasion,  Dr.  Robinson 
fought  upon  the  side  of  "  squatter  sovereignty,"  and  was  seri- 
ously wounded — it  was  asserted,  mortally,  at  the  time.  For  his 
alleged  conduct  upon  this  occasion,  and  while  still  suffering 
from  a  desperate  hurt,  Dr.  Robinson  was  indicted  for  murder, 
assault  with  intent  to  kill,  and  for  conspiracy;  tried  before  the 
District  Court  of  Sacramento — and  acquitted.  While  still  in 
confinement,  on  board  the  prison-ship,  he  was  nominated  and 
elected  to  the  Legislature  of  California,  from  Sacramento  dis- 
trict. This  was  in  1851.  In  July  of  the  same  year,  he  sailed 
from  California  in  the  steamship  Union,  which  was  wrecked  on 
her  passage  to  the  Isthmus  ;  in  the  difficulties  which  followed 
this  disaster,  Robinson  is  said  to  have  borne  an  active  and  con- 
servative part.  After  many  delays,  he  finally  managed  to  reach 
New  York  city,  in  September  of  1851  ;  was  at  Havana  at  the 


302 


ROBINSON  IS  LIONIZED. 


time  of  the  Lopez  execution,  and  a  witness  to  that  cold-blooded 
murder.  Upon  his  return  to  the  East,  Dr.  R.  recommenced  the 
practice  of  medicine,  in  Fitchburg,  where  he  remained  until  Juu3 
of  1854,  when  he  emigrated  with  his  family  to  Kansas.  Hero, 
he  settled  himself  at  Lawrence,  where  he  still  resides  upon  his 
"  claim,"  some  half  a  mile  distant  from  the  maiu  body  of  the 
town.  Unlike  his  compatriot,  General  Lane,  Dr.  Robinson— 
or,  as  we  should  now  begin  to  call  him,  General  Robinson — does 
not  call  himself  a  man  of  property  ;  he  says  he  is  simply  "  a 
poor  man  whose  business  prospects  have  been  sadly  damaged  by 
the  war." 

In  Kansas  politics,  Gen.  Robinson  was  a  member  of  the  State 
Constitutional  Convention — fs  chairman  of  the  Free  State  Execu- 
tive Committee,  and  in  addition  to  this,  holds  the  military  rank  of 
Major-General  and  Commander-in-Chief,  of  the  Kansas  Volunteers 
■ — as  the  Free  State  army  of  Kansas  style  themselves.  He  may 
be  regarded  as  the  real  head — the  thinking  one,  we  mean — and 
mainspring  of  the  Free  State  party;  or,  to  speak  more  correctly, 
of  all  that  party  who  are  worth  anything.  We  believe  him  to  be 
a  keen,  shrewd,  far-seeing  man,  who  would  permit  nothing  to 
stand  in  the  way  of  the  end  which  he  desired  to  gain.  He  is, 
moreover,  cool  and  determined,  and  appears  to  be  endowed  with 
immense  firmness;  we  should  call  him  a  conservative  man,  now  ; 
but  conservative  rather  from  policy  than  from  principle.  He 
seems  to  have  strong  common  sense,  and  a  good  ordinary  brain, 
but  no  brilliancy  of  talent.  In  fact,  to  sum  Gen.  Robinson  up  in 
a  single  sentence,  we  consider  him  the  most  dangerous  enemy 
which  the  Pro-Slavery  party  have  to  encounter  in  Kansas. 

In  person  he  is  tall,  well  made,  and  more  than  ordinarily 
handsome;  gentlemanly,  but  by  no  means  winning  in  his  man- 
ners, with  one  of  those  cold,  keen  blue  eyes  that  seem  to  look 
you  through. 


A  BRILLIANT  INCIDENT  OF  THE  WAR. 


303 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

THE     HEROES     OF    THE  WAR. 

The  following  anecdote,  which  we  find  noted  down  upon  our 
journal  for  to-day,  may  well  be  styled  the  most  brilliant  incident 
of  that  renowned  struggle,  "the  Wakarusa  War,"  at  least  upon 
the  Free-State  side  of  the  question.  We  don't  vouch  for  its 
truthfulness,  but  as  it  comes  from  "high  authority,"  as  a  bona, 
fide  event  of  the  campaign,  we  feel  bound  to  chronicle  it  here, 
the  more  so  as  it  .is  really  a  very  readable  story  : 

It  would  seem  that  a  certain  Major  Blank — we  have  a  fond- 
ness for  Blanks,  for  who  ever  heard  of  a  Mister  Blank,  or  even 
a  Major  Blank  bringing  an  action  for  libel — we  really  don't 
know  that  we  give  our  soldier  rank  enough,  for  in  good  truth,  he 
ought  to  be  a  General  of  Brigade,  if  a  most  impudent,  but 
withal  cunningly-devised  stratagem,  can  brevet  a  Kansas  volun- 
teer. But  to  get  on  with  our  narrative,  the  stronghold  of  Free 
State-ism  was  besieged,  and  the  excitement  upon  both  sides,  as 
the  newspapers  say,  tremendous.  Old  muskets  were  in  demand, 
rifles  at  a  premium,  and  six-shooters  worth  their  weight  in 
gold,  but  though  these  were  to  be  had,  there  was  yet  a  desideratum 
in  the  way  of  fighting-tools,  which  had  of  late  become  a  matter  of 
serious  perplexity  to  the  military  chiefs  in  Lawrence — they  lacked 
artillery.  Nor  did  their  want  seem  likely  to  be  supplied,  when — 
as  luck  would  have  it,  a  messenger  trotted  into  town  with  the 
gratifying  intelligence,  that  some  sympathizing  New  Yorker  had 


304 


MAJOR  BLANK  OF  THE  FREE  STATE  VOLUNTEERS. 


sent  a  six  or  twelve-pounder  (we  have  forgotten  which),  with 
ammunition  to  match,  to  assist  their  troops  in  killing  off  the 
"  Border  Ruffians,"  and  moreover,  that  this  "  material  aid"  was 
now  lying  all  snugly  boxed  and  safely  stowed  away,  in  the  ware- 
house of  a  Kansas  City  commission  merchant.  But  Kansas 
City  was  one  of  "  the  enemy's  "  strongholds — Pro-Slavery  op  bo 
the  hub — and  how  to  get  the  piece  into  Lawrence,  over  guarded 
roads,  and  in  troublous  times,  without  exciting  a  suspicion,  which 
would  have  undoubtedly  changed  the  destination  of  this  "  peace- 
maker," was  a  problem  which  might  well  have  puzzled  the  inge- 
nuity of  that  very  acute  practitioner,  a  "Philadelphia  lawyer.8 
But,  as  our  Free  State  warriors  had  a  sprinkling,  of  the  real 
wooden-nutmeg,  calculating,  Deown  East  Yankee  breed  among 
their  counsellers,  it  was  not  very  long,  before  they  laid  their 
sagacious  heads  together  and  hammered  out  a  plan  for  its  deliv- 
erance. 

As  the  reader  may  readily  suppose,  there  were  but  few  to 
whom  the  particulars  of  this  notable  scheme  were  communicated, 
at  least  at  the  time,  so  it  excited  but  little  curiosity,  when 
Major  Blank,  of  the  Quarter-Master's  department,  accompanied 
by  two  or  three  travelling  friends,  rolled  out  of  Massachusetts 
street  one  winter  morning,  in  a  stout  Pennsylvania  wagon,  drawn 
by  a  couple  of  active  mules,  and  took  the  road  for  Kansas  City, 
which,  as  everybody  knows,  is  located  on  the  Missouri  river,  near 
the  frontier  line  of  the  territory. 

Upon  reaching  their  place  of  destination,  our  Major — who  had, 
with  very  unusual  modesty,  dropped  his  title  for  the  time  being, 
thereby  reducing  his  appellation  to  plain  Mister  Blank,  who  wag 
presumed  to  be  a  citizen  of  Lawrence,  journeying  to  Kansas 
City  on  business  of  his  own — lost  no  tim^  in  waiting  upon 
the  commission  merchant,  and  accordingly  repaired  to  his  store- 
house, where  he  sauntered  in  with  a  very  nonchalant  air,  at  the 
same  time  remarking  <k  that  as  he  was  going  back  to  town 


YANKEE  WIT  VERSUS  MISSOURI  SAGACITY. 


305 


with  a  wagon  that  was  most  empty,  he  guessed  he  might  as  well 
take  a  box  or  tew  along  with  him,"  which  he  understood  had 
been  stored  there  for  a  friend  of  his,  one  Mr.  John  Smith  of 
Lawrence,  who  had  requested  him,  if  he  could  do  so  conven- 
iently, to  bring  them  along  with  him  upon  his  return  trip.  Now  as 
Mr.  Blank  was  an  accommodating  sort  of  chap,  and  moreover, 
wanted  to  oblige  his  very  good  friend,  "Mr.  John  Smith,  of 
Lawrence,"  he  "calculated  that  it  wouldn't  put  him  out  of  his 
way,  and  so  he'd  take  'em,  and  run  the  risk  of  gettin'  pay  for 
his  trouble." 

,Now  our  commission  merchant  was  a  red-hot  Pro-Slavery 
matf,  who  would  as  soon  thought  of  taking  the  wages  of  the 
foul  fiend  himself,  as  of  assisting  "  those  rascally  abolitionists 
in  Lawrence,"  by  either  word  or  deed.  But  as  the  thing  looked 
all  right,  he  was  fain  to  point  out  the  boxes — there  were  but 
two,  one  of  them  containing  the  gun  and  the  other  its  carriage — 
which  the  Major  receipted  for,  and  was  about  getting  into 
his  wagon  with  such  speed  as  their  weight  would  permit,  when 
the  Pro-Slavery  man — made  suspicious,  it  may  be,  by  some  pecu- 
liarity in  their  appearance — objected,  and  the  following  dialogue 
ensued  ; 

Pro- Slavery  Merchant. — Look  hyar,  stranger,  thar's  somethin' 
mighty  dubersome  about  them  boxes.  They  say  you  Lawrence 
folks  air  gitting  all  manner  of  curious  traps  up  thar,  to  wipe 
out  our  boys  with,  and  I'll  jest  allow  to  hev  a  squint  inter  them 
goods  afore  they  roll  out  of  Kansas  City. 

Free  State  Major. — Waal  I  guess,  Mister,  there  ain't  nothin' 
extra  in  'em  no  how.  I  don't  know  for  certin,  but  John  Smith 
says  he's  expectin'  a  buggy-wagon,  along  with  some  other  notions, 
which  his  folks  are  a .  sendin'  out  from  York  State,  and  I 
shouldn't  wonder  if  it  wan't  them.  But  I  guess  they  might 
hev  bought  it  a  tarnation  sight  cheaper  in  Saint  Louie,  and 
saved  payin'  freight,  beside,  don't  yeou  ? 


306 


THE  STRANGER  STEPS  IN  TO  DRINK. 


Pro- Slavery  Merchant. — I  don't  kear  nothin'  fur  that,  but  Til 
be  dog-gauned  ef  I  don't  think  it's  about  reasonable  to  hist  a 
lid  off  of  them  thar  boxes,  and  see  what's  inside  fur  myself. 
Well  I  do,  stranger. 

Free  State  Merchant. — Waal,  I  kinder  sorter  expect  that  ef 
yeou'r  willin'  tu  take  the  risk,  it  won't  make  no  great  difference 
to  Mister  Smith,  any  way,  ef  yeou  du,  so  here  goes;  hand  us 
that  axe,  will  yeou,  Sam  ? 

At  this  stage  of  the  conversation,  Mister  Blank  seized  the 
axe  and  knocked  up  one  side  of  the  lid  of  the  larger  receptacle, 
which,  as  he  well  knew,  contained  the  wheels,  and  then  threw 
down  the  instrument,  at  the  same  time  calling  out  trium- 
phantly, 

"  There,  Mister,  didn't  I  tell  yeou,  jest  look  for  yeourseif. 
Guess  you'll  say  I'm  right  another  time;  ef  that  ain't  a  buggy- 
wagon  it  ain't  nothin'  at  all.    Don't  yeou  see  the  wheels  ?" 

Being  thus  urged,  our  Pro-Slavery  merchant  peeped  in,  saw 
what  he  supposed,  in  the  uncertain  light  of  the  building,  to  be 
a  pair  of  wheels,  and  feeling,  perhaps,  a  little  crest-fallen  at  this 
"  lame  and  impotent  conclusion  "  of  his  suspicious  scrutiny, 
"  acknowledged  the  corn  "  by  saying, 

"  Well,  I'll  jest  allow  I  wor  a  spot  too  particular  this  time;  so 
hist  them  inter  your  wagon,  boys,  and  roll  out  as  lively  as  you 
choose.  Jim,  you  infernal  nigga,  whar  air  you;  come  hyar,  and 
help  these  gentlemen  pack  thar  plunder.  Stranger,"  added  he, 
turning  to  the  Major,  "  mout  I  ask  you  to  step  inter  the  office 
and  take  a  drink  ?  I've  a  powerful  far  article  of  com  whisky  iu 
thar." 

While  the  "  stranger "  stepped  in  to  drink,  the  gentlemen, 
assisted  by  "  that  infernal  lazy  nigga,  Jim,"  made  good  use 
of  their  hands  ;  for  by  the  time  the  Major  aud  his  Pro- 
Slavery  friend  had  finished  "  imbibing,"  and  exchanging  their 
parting  assurances  of  very  distinguished  consideration,  the  boxe.s, 


YANKEE  WIT  IN  A  FIX. 


30T 


with  their  concealed  munitions  of  war,  were  all  ready,  in  one 
sense,  to  go  off,  having  been  securely  stowed  upon  the  bottom 
of  the  conveyance,  with  an  upper  covering,  most  ingeniously 
arranged,  of  tin  pails,  wicker-work,  wooden  ware,  and  such  like 
"Yankee  notions,"  which  formed  an  excellent  screen  for  the 
real  valuables  of  the  load,  and  at  the  same  time  gave  an  air  of 
greater  innocence  to  this  masked  flying  battery. 

So  being  all  right,  they  rolled  out  of  Kansas  City,  and  went 
on  their  way  rejoicing.  But  our  Free  State  Major's  anxieties 
were  not  yet  over,  for  they  had  barely  reached  a  point  upon  the 
Lawrence  trail,  known  as  Wyandotte  Hill,  when  the  mules 
"  stalled,"  and  their  wagon  stuck  fast  in  the  mud.  What  was 
to  be  done  ?  One  thing  was  evident,  that  it  would  never  do  to 
unload  their  cargo,  while  every  avenue  which  led  to  Lawrence 
was  fairly  alive  with  those  terrible  fellows,  the  Border  Ruffians, 
who  would,  in  all  human  probability,  have  "  made  no  bones," 
that  is  to  say,  left  not  a  whole  bone  in  the  skins  of  our  Major 
and  his  party,  if  they  had  caught  them  with  their  "  contraband 
of  war."  It  "  was  a  fix,"  as  the  Major  afterwards  expressed,  it, 
"of  the  darndest  kind."  In  the  mean  while  time  was  passing, 
and  things  began  to  look  desperate.  But  Major  Blank  was  a 
small  Napoleon  in  such  dilemmas  ;  so  after  scratching  his  per- 
plexed pate  silently,  as  if  he  had  an  idea  under  the  hair,  and 
might  get  it  out  by  friction,  for  at  least  five  minutes,  he  turned 
suddenly  towards  his  men,  while  a  quiet  smile  crept  over  his 
face,  like  sunshine  after  shade,  and  exclaimed,  "  I've  hit  it.  boys. 
I  calkulate  we've  played  these  Missouri  Pukes  one  real  Yankee 
trick;  and  now  tarnation  seize  'em,  we'll  treat  them  to  another, 
and,  if  they  only  knew  it,  a  darned  sight  the  smartest  of  the 
tew.  Jest  wait  awhile  till  some  of  them  nigger-drivin'  fellers 
come  this  way,  and  see  if  we  don't  git  all  the  help  we  want." 

And  having  thus  delivered  himself,  our  Major  picked  a  dry 
seat  by  the  side  of  the  road,  where  he  squatted  down  upon  his 


308  THE  BORDER  RUFFIANS  HELP  YANKEE  WIT. 


haunches,  and  struck  up  Yankee  Doodle  to  kill  time.   But  he  had 

got  no  further  than 

"  Yankee  Doodle  keep  it  up, 
Yankee  Doodle  dandy ; 
When  all  yeour  lasses  biles  a,way, 
Yeou  can't  expect  much  candy," 

when  the  "  nigger-drivin'  fellers,"  who  were  to  furnish  the 
expected  aid,  made  their  appearance  in  the  shape  of  a  detach- 
ment of  "  Border  Ruffians,"  all  armed  and  equipped,  aud  en 
route  to  reinforce  the  Pro-Slavery  encampment  upon  the 
Wakarusa  bottom.  Nor  was  their  march  either  a  silent  or  an 
orderly  one,  for  they  came,  cursing  the  Abolitionists  at  every 
stride,  until,  like  Saul  of  old,  they  might  fairly  be  accused  of 
"  breathing  out  threatenings  and  slaughter"  as  they  went. 

But  for  all  this  our  Yankee  Major  knew  right  well  that  to 
help  a  man's  wagon  out  of  the  mud  is  but  an  every-day  wes'tefi 
courtesy,  and  even  Missouri  "  Pukes  "  are  much  too  well  "  raised  " 
to  permit  even  a  political  prejudice  to  interfere  with  their  good 
breeding.  So  when  our  Free  State  officer  straightened  himself 
up,  and  hailed  their  leader — who  looked  as  if  he  had  kept  on  H  a 
chillen'  "  until  the  ague  had  shook  all  the  flesh  off  his  bones — 
by  drawling  out, 

"  Waal,  neow,  Kernel,  guess  yeou'd  let  some  of  yeour  men  lend 
a  feller  in  trouble  a  helpin'  hand,  wouldn't  yeou  ;  for  I'm  stalled 
down  yeou  see  ?" 

The  response  was  a  hearty  one,  for  "  the  enemy "  not  only 
hitched  on  a  couple  of  their  own  horses  to  assist  the  efforts  of 
the  well-nigh  exhausted  mules,  but  even  put  their  stard; 
shoulders  to  the  wheel,  and  thus  extricated  the  Free  State 
Artillery  from  that  most  unrelenting  of  detainers,  a  Kansas  mud 
hole,  where  it  might  have  stuck,  but  for  their  volunteer  exer- 
tions, until  the  "crack  of  doom,"  without  making  a  report,  no — 
not  even  in  the  newspapers. 


YANKEE  WIT  IS  MUCH  OBLIGED. 


309 


Being  thus  happily  relieved  from  his  embroglio,  Major  Blank 
said  his  "good  day  to  yeou,  gentlemen,"  and  "I'm  railley 
obleeged  to  yeou  and  then,  having  first  pretended  to  employ 
himself  about  his  wagon  until  his  late  benefactors  were  fairly 
out  of  sight,  our  military  chieftain  took  a  long  squint  ahead, 
cocked  his  starboard  eye  knowingly  at  his  companions,  told  the 
driver  to  start  up  his  team,  and  then  proceeded  with  the  strain  of 

"Yankee  Doodle  'tis  a  tune 
Americans  delight  in," 

as  if  he  hadn't  a  care,  or  even  the  shadow  of  one,  west  of  the 
Alleghany  Mountains. 

From  this  point,  says  our  informant,  the  Free  State  sol- 
diers and  their  cannon  journeyed  prosperously  on  until  they 
were  within  some  ten  or  fifteen  miles  of  their  destination, 
when  their  leader  (the  Major)  left  the  party  and  rode  ahead, 
after  agreeing  with  his  men  upon  certain  signs,  such  as  dropping 
cards  by  the  wayside,  which  would  forewarn  them  in  case  he  dis- 
covered any  danger  of  interruption  upon  the  road.  But  our 
Free  State  commander  was  evidently  not  only  shrewd,  but 
lucky,  for  he  found  none  to  molest  nor  make  him  afraid  ;  so  in 
due  course  of  time,  the  "  pacificator  "  and  its  guardians  entered 
the  main  street  of  Lawrence  to  add  their  valuable  aid  to  the 
earth-work  defences  of  that  beleaguered  city. 

It  is  furthermore  reported  that  on  the  ensuing  day,  when  the 
modus  operandi  of  this  affair  (whieh  was  almost  too  good  to  keep 
quiet — the  more  so  as  there  was  no  longer  any  need  for  secrecy), 
had  reached  the  Pro-Slavery  camp,  not  even  a  barrel  of  flour 
was  permitted  to  pass  "  the  enemy's  "  lines  without  being  opened 
and  thoroughly  searched.  But,  alas  for  the  "  Border  Ruffians!" 
all  their  precautions  were  but  a  repetition  of  that  oft-practised 
prudence,  which  takes  excellent  care  to  "shut  the  stable  door 
when  the  steed  is  gone." 


310 


A  DARNED  MEAN  YANKEE  TRICK. 


If  this  be  not  what  a  Virginian  would  call  a  "darned  mean 

Yankee  trick,"  and  one  of  the  real,  original,  no-counection-with- 
any-other-establishment  sort  into  the  bargain,  we  should  be 
pleased  to  know  what  is  ? 

And  now,  for  another  bit  of  documentary  Free  State  testimo- 
ny, which  we  shall  present  here  in  the  shape  of  "  a  statement  of 
facts  connected  with  certain  meetings,  which  were  held  in  the 
town  of  Lawrence,  on  the  day  following  the  rescue  of  Branson 
from  Sheriff  Jones."  For  this  information,  we  are  indebted  to 
the  courtesy  of  Mr.  Josiah  Miller,  the  editor  of  the  "  Free  State," 
and  a  citizen  of  Lawrence,  in  which  place  the  journal  alluded 
to  is  published. 

MR.  MILLER'S  STATEMENT. 

"On  the  day  following  the  rescue  of  Branson  from  Sheriff 
Jones's  posse,  there  was  a  meeting  held  at  Lawrence,  where  the 
party  who  had  effected  his  rescue  had  arrived,  with  Branson  in 
company,  at  about  four  o'clock,  a.  m.  Upon  entering  the  town, 
the  rescuers  beat  a  drum  about  the  streets,  going  through  regu- 
lar military  evolutions,  with  arms  shouldered,  etc.  There  was 
considerable  excitement  ;  between  eight  and  nine  o'clock,  a.  m., 
a  meeting  was  convened  in  1  Union  Hall,'  which,  we  understand, 
is  called  Union  Hall,  School  House  Hall,  and  by  some,  Robinson 
Hall.  This  meeting  was  got  up  by  the  rescuers  of  Branson,  as 
all  wished  to  hear  a  statement  of  the  facts.  About  one  hundred 
persons  were  present  ;  it  was  as  fully  attended  as  our  town 
meetings  generally  are  ;  the  assemblage  nearly  filled  the  house. 
S.  N.  Wood,  the  leader  of  the  rescuing  party,  was  present,  with 
a  sword  buckled  round  him  ;  he  was  unanimously  appointed 
chairman  ;  and,  on  taking  his  seat,  made  some  vague  and  am- 
biguous remarks  in  regard  to  the  rescue  of  Branson.  He  would 
not  call  it  a  rescue,  but  said  they  had  simply  ordered  Branson 
to  come  out  from  Sheriff  Jones's  party  and  join  theirs.    He  id- 


MR.   MILLER'S  FREE  STATE  STATEMENT. 


311 


tiraated  that  one  of  their  number  (Abbot),  who  gave  this  order, 
was  the  commander  of  the  military  company  to  which  Branson 
belonged  (the  Wakarusa  Co.),  and  had,  therefore,  a  right  to  ex- 
ercise his  military  authority,  by  giving  Branson  a  command,  which 
he  (Branson),  as  a  military  man,  was  bound  to  obey.  Wood 
stated  further,  that,  when  Jones's  people  threatened  to  shoot 
Branson  if  he  stirred,  his  men  (the  rescuers)  cocked  their  Sharpe's 
rifles,  and  would,  in  the  event  of  the  sheriff's  party  firing,  have 
annihilated  every  man  of  them,  as  each  of  his  people  had  picked 
his  man. 

"  Branson  followed  Wood,  and  gave  an  account  of  the  circum- 
stances attending  his  arrest  and  rescue.  He  said  that  Sheriff 
Jones's  party  excited  his  suspicions  by  not  taking  a  direct  road 
(after  leaving  his  house),  but  going  from  one  Pro-Slavery  settle- 
ment to  another,  in  the  vicinity  of  Hickory  Point.  He  added 
that  Jones  never  showed  any  writ  on  making  the  arrest.  Bran- 
son said,  that  he  was  sleeping  at  the  time  of  the  sheriff's  visit, 
and  on  being  awakened  by  their  knocking  at  the  door,  arose 
and  opened  it,  when  Jones  rushed  in,  with  a  pistol  in  either 
hand,  followed  by  his  party,  and  informed  Branson  that  he  was 
his  prisoner.  Jones  did  not  state  where  he  was  to  be  taken, 
or  for  what  purpose  ;  but  he  afterwards  learned  (though  not 
from  Jones),  that  he  was  goiu'g  to  Lawrence,  to  be  examined 
upon  a  peace-warrant  ;  they  provided  him  with  an  animal  to 
ride.  Branson  did  not  appear  to  have  been  uncivilly  treated 
while  on  the  road.  He  further  stated,  that  they  proceeded 
on  until  they  met  the  rescuing  party  ;  when  the  rescuers  com- 
manded Jones  to  halt,  the  parties  were  about  eighty  yards 
apart.  Some  of  the  rescuers  then  called  out,  "  Is  Branson 
there?".  He  answered,  "Yes,"  whereupon  they  directed  him 
to  leave  Jones's  party  and  fall  in  with  theirs. 

"Upon  the  conclusion  of  Branson's  statement,  a  committee  of 
ten  was  appointed,  to  take  the  matter  into  consideration,  and, 


812 


WHAT  SHARPE's  RIFLES  COST  IN  KANSAS. 


if  necessary,  prepare  for  the  defence  of  Lawrence.  This  com- 
mittee was  styled  the  Committee  of  Public  Safety.  They  were 
all  citizens  of  Lawrence.  The  '  Ten '  retired  to  consult,  and 
concluded  for  the  time,  to  act  entirely  upon  the  defensive,  and, 
if  Sheriff  Jones  came  to  arrest  the  rescuers,  to  permit  it  to  be 
done. 

"  I  have  omitted  to  state  that,  after  the  conclusion  of  Bran- 
son's remarks,  it  was 

"  Resolved,  That  this  meeting  approves  the  conduct  of  the  men 
who  rescued  Branson. 

"  After  some  discussion,  this  motion,  through  the  influence  of 
General  Robinson  and  others,  was  withdrawn. 

"  Violent  speeches  were  then  made  by  Anson  H.  Mallory,  of 
Lawrence,  the  Quarter-master  General  to  the  Kansas  Volun- 
teers, during  the  Mate  war/  who  wound  up  his  remarks  by 
moving,  that  a  committee  of  three  be  appointed,  to  wait  upon 
Hugh  Cameron,  Esq.,  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  under  the  Terri- 
torial Legislature,  and  inquire  by  what  authority  he  issued  the 
writ  to  arrest  Branson.  This  was  adopted,  and  a  committee 
visited  Judge  Cameron  accordingly,  but  with  no  better  result 
than  the  information  that  he,  Cameron,  was  acting  under  a 
"commission  from  Governor  Shannon,  and  issued  the  writ  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  authority  thus  vested  in  him,  and  on  an  affi- 
davit filed  by  one  Buckley. 

"  The  meeting  then  adjourned  at  noon,  to  re-commence  at  two, 
p.  m.,  to  receive  the  reports  of  its  committees,  at  which  time  it 
met,  when  the  reports  were  rendered,  and  adopted,  as  above 
stated.'' 

Our  informant  adds,  that  the  Sharpe's  rifles  are,  as  he  be- 
lieves, furnished  to  the  Kansas  Volunteers  at  twelve  dollars,  in 
Kansas  scrip,  which  has  been  quoted — in  Kansas — at  a  discount 
of  fifty  cents  on  the  dollar. 


A  PRAIRIE  HOME. 


313 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

HIS  HONOR  JUDGE  PORTLY. 

January  Uh. — At  a  cabin  upon  the  prairie,  known  as  "  Bar- 
ber's claim." 

We  are  sitting  in  company  with  a  Free  State  settler's  family, 
consisting  of  himself,  his  wife,  sister,  little  ones,  and  friend,  in 
the  warmest  apartment  of  the  two  which  our  young  frontiersman 
calls  home.  A  wild  winter  storm  howls  drearily  without,  while 
the  cold  increases  hourly — and  although  the  table  at  which  we 
are  seated  stands  close  to  the  stove,  the  chill  air  that  finds  its 
way  through  every  nook  and  cranny  of  this  comfortless — foul- 
weather  residence — benumbs  our  stiffening  finger*,  which  are 
striving,  but  in  vain,  to  hold  "  the  pen  of  a  ready  writer,"  as 
they  jot  down  these  inklings  of  adventure  for  to-day. 

We  left  Lawrence  at  an  early  hour  this  morning,  in  company 
with  our  friends,  G.  P.  Lowry,  Esq.,  of  Free  State  celebrity, 
and  a  certain  Mr.  Eldridge,  the  proprietor  of  the  "  Eldridge 
House," — late  Free  State  Hotel,  that  is  to  be,  in  Lawrence,  and 
of  whose  establishment  we  shall  speak  more  fully  elsewhere. 
Our  journey  of  to-day,  if  a  matter  of  ten  miles  can  be  called  a 
journey,  was  quite  an  impromptu  affair,  for  when  we  settled  our- 
selves to  journalize  at  the  "  Cincinnati,"  between  seven  and 
eight  o'clock,  a.  m.,  we  had  not  the  remotest  intention  of  leaving 
Lawrence  to-day;  but  as  our  friends  were  driving  out  upon  the 

14 


314  AN  IMPROMPTU  JOURNEY. 

road  which  passes  Squire  Portly's — we  will  give  tiim  that  name 
for  want  of  a  better — who,  as  everybody  ought  to  know,  is  a 
gentleman  with  "a  most  capacious  stomach,"  and  high-strung 
Free  Soil  principles,  we  determined  to  accompany  them,  at 
least  so  far  as  his  Honor's  dwelling — for  our  friend  Portly  had 
"  squatted 9  within  a  mile  or  so  of  the  residences  of  Barber's 
brother,  widow,  and  brother-in-law,  from  whom  we  hoped  to 
obtain  a  narrative  of  facts,  connected  with  the  shooting  of  Thomas 
W.  Barber,  who  was,  as  the  reader  may  already  know,  the  only 
victim  of  the  Free  State  Wakarusa  war. 

A  somewhat  less  than  two  hours  of  travel,  over  one  of  the 
bleakest  of  all  bleak  prairie  roads,  brought  us  through  in  a  half 
frozen  state  to  old  Portly's  "  improvement" — a  very  snug,  well 
chinked,  Siamese — twin-like  pair  of  log  cabins,  in  one  of  which 
we  found  the  fat  Squire  himself,  looking  the  very  picture  of  lazy 
contentment,  as  he  sat  with  his  short  legs  cocked  comfortably 
up  against  the  stove,  while  a  long-stemmed,  smoke^lackened, 
cob  pipe  protruded  from  its  resting-place,  between  his  few  remain- 
ing teeth,  at  which  his  Honor  kept  sucking  away  as  placidly  as 
what  he  was  pleased  to  term  "  a  powerful  smart  spell  of  the 
phthisic"  would  permit.  Upon  our  entrance,  old  Portly,  whom 
we  had  met  before,  noticed  the  fact  by  grunting  out  a  short- 
winded  welcome,  as  he  motioned  us  to  a  vacant  rush-bottomed 
chair,  which  we  had  barely  taken  possession  of,  when  the  door 
opened,  and  the  Judge's  good  lady  added  herself  to  the  party 
already  assembled,  in  the  person  of  a  keen-eyed,  hard-featured 
little  dame,  the  very  antipodes,  in  externals  at  least,  of  her 
unctuous  lord,  for  while  the  Judge  was  literally  "a  man  of 
weight,"  who  would  have  played  but  a  sorry  part  either  in  a 
marching  regiment,  or  a  foot  race,  his  spouse  was  thin,  even  to 
a  fault;  indeed  she  was  to  all  appearances  but  a  mere  rack  of 
bones,  over  whose  unpicturesque  outline  nature  had  condescended 
to  draw  an  angular  wrinkling  of  skiu,  which,  between  "  theager," 


SQUIRE  PORTLY  AND  HIS  DAME. 


315 


exposure  to  the  sun,  and  downright  hard  work,  had  finally 
become  embrowned  to  an  extent  that  quite  carried  out  the  idea 
of  a  well-dressed  hide.  In  fact,  Portly's  "  lesser  half"  was  really 
a  wonder  in  her  way;  for  though  you  might  have  been  inclined 
at  first  sight  to  have  said  that  this  antiquated  matron  stood 
upon  her  last  limbs — yet  it  was  only  necessary  to  face  her  battery 
of  words  to  convince  even  the  examiner  of  a  Life  Insurance  Com- 
pany, that  the  old  girl  was,  "  barrin'  accidents/'  good  for  twenty 
years  to  come,  for  we  will  venture  to  say,  that  Madam  Portly's 
powers  of  volubility  were  second  to  those  of  no  other  woman  in 
the  Territory;  our  long  hostess,  Miss  Charity,  always  excepted. 
And  didn't  she  give  it  to  the  Border  Ruffians — and  didn't  she 
pitch  into  the  Missourians — not  to  mention  the  Pro-Slavery 
side  of  the  Wakarusa  war  in  general,  with  a  special  addenda 
in  favor  of  "  Atchinson  and  his  crew?"  To  "all  of  which" 
questions  "and  singular,"  candor  compels  us  to  make  answer 
— well  she  did. 

But  let  us  give  the  reader  an  extract — a  random  one  withal 
— from  a  wonderful  chapter  of  this  good  old  lady's  frontier 
experiences — which  she  poured  out  thick  and  fast — as  his  Honor 
Judge  Portly  was  strapping  on  his  buffalo  overshoes  to  show  us 
the  way  to  "Barber's  claim,"  which,  as  we  have  already  hinted, 
was  what  Kansas  men  would  call  "  near  by,"  which — being 
translated — would  in  this  instance  signify  a  mile  or  so  off ; 
and  now  for  a  specimen  of  his  " lesser  half's"  volubility: 

"  Waal,  stranger,  yeou  see  it  wor  in  thar  fust  part  of  thar 
evenin' — but  not  so  dark  as  it  mout  be.  Waal,  I  wor  a  settin' 
by  thar  stove,  when  thar  come  a  knock  to  thar  door,  so  I  riz 
an'  opened  it,  an'  I'll  jest  allow  that  thar  wor  forty  men  in  all  a 
settin'  on  thar  bosses  around  thar  house.  To  be  sure  me  and 
my  old  man  the  Squire  thar,  ave  bed  a  few  Words  about  thar 
bein'  that  many,  but  I  jest  know  I'm  right;  for  thar's  my  darter 
Wetumpky,  she  that's  thar  married  one — for  yeou  see  she  got  a 


316 


THAT  PEART  GAL  WETUMPKY. 


man  in  Ingianny  afore  we  moved  to  Kansas — an'  she's  a  right 
peart  woman,  I  kin  tell  yeou,  stranger;  more  pearter,  I  reckon, 
than  any  gal  of  her  raisin'  that  yeou  ever  sot  yeour  eyes  on,  I  do 
expect.  And  Wetumpky  jest  up  an'  told  thar  old  man,  the 
other  day,  that  he  wor  a  gettin'  so  blind  that  he  didn't  know  a 
hawk  from  a  handsaw;  and  what  wor  more,  that  she  seen  them 
men  herself,  and  she  war  jest  willin'  to  swar,  that  if  thar  warn't 
a  powerful  sight  on  em,  thar  warn't  nary  one.  So  the  Judge 
hes  a  kinder  gin  in  lately,  an'  concluded  that  I  wor  right. 

"  Wael,  stranger,  as  I  wor  informin'  on  yeou,  I  riz,  an'  opened 
thar  door,  an'  when  I  noticed  who  wor  thar,  I  jest  allowed  that 
we  wor  all  murdered  ;  fur  yeou  see,  thar  Judge  wor  away — 
though,  to  be  sure,  he's  got  to  be  considerably  no  account  at 
fightin'  since  he's  had  the  phthisic  so  powerful  bad  ;  an'  what 
wor  more,  got  his  thumb  chawed  up  in  a  whisky  scrape  down  in 
Ingiany  ;  and  as  fur  thar  boys,  they  wor  done  gone  to  a  speech- 
ifying down  to  Lawrence  ;  so  I  kinder  skeared — John  Portly, 
whar's  your  manners  ?  Why  don't  yeou  invite  thar  stranger  to 
take  a  drink,  instead  of  standin'  thar,  a-lookin'  at  us  like  a  sick 
coon  ?  and  he  a  goin'  out  inter  that  prairie,  and  thar  Lord 
knows,  that  whisky  never  hurt  no  man  when  it  air  so  powerful 
cold.  Wael,  as  I  wor  a-tellin'  yeou,  stranger,  I  wor  some 
skeared ;  and  I  allow,  that  badly  skeared,  that  I  didn't  say  nary 
word  fur  nigh  onto  a  minit  ;  but  I  got  over  it,  stranger,  fur 
yeou  see,  bein'  Hoosier  raised,  I  kin  ginerally  allow  to  take  my 
own  part  right  smartly  ;  so  says  I,  Whar  mout  yeou  come  from, 
gentlemen  ?  and  with  that,  they  jest  went  on  a-tellin'  me  a  long 
rigmarole  of  stuff  about  how  they  wor  from  Iowa,  and — Judge, 
I  air  astonished  at  yeou  !  why  don't  yeou  ask  thar  stranger  to 
sugar  ?  Don't  sugar,  hey  ?  Wael,  that  air  radiculous  !  it  air 
curous,  too,  fur  I  always  allowed  that  thar  Yorkers  used  a  heap 
of  sugar.  But  whar  wor  I? — oh,  I  wor  a-telliu'  yeou  that  thar  men 
wor  a  savin'  that  they  hed  come  from  Iowa  to  help  thar  Free 


THE  MISSOURIANS  PRESCRIBE  HANGING. 


3H 


State  folks  down  in  Lawrence  to  whip  thar  Missouri  nigger- 
drivers  that  wor  a-connV  to  burn  thar  town  ;  an'  they  talked 
like  they  wor  the  men  that  our  folks  wor  expectin'  down  ;  fur 
we  hed  hearn,  stranger,  that  thar  wor  help  a-comin  from  up  in 
Iowa  ;  but  I  jest  knowed  that  these  fellers  wor  a-lyin'  to  me  from 
thar  start  ;  an'  I  wor  right,  for  directly  one  on  'em  speaks  up — 
for  yeou  see,  stranger,  some  on  'em  hed  got  off  and  hitched  thar 
hosses  ;  an'  says  he,  1  Madam,  I  mout  as  well  tell  yeou  that  our 
boys  air  Missourians,  and  almighty  flat-footed  down  onto  thar 
Free  State  men  to  the  back  of  it  ;  and  as  fur  what  brings 
us  hyar  to-night,  it's  jest  this  :  thar's  a  report  goin'  round,  that 
yeour  old  man,  thar  Judge — an'  hangin'  wouldn't  be  unhealthy 
fur  him — hes  got  a  power  of  Sharpe's  rifles  cashed  hyar  in  thar 
house  ;  and  as  our  boys  air  bound  to  have  'em,  thar  air  a  few 
questions  we  would  be  pleased  to  hev  yeou  a-replyin'  to.'  Wael, 
when  I  hearn  that,  stranger,  I  jest  allowed  that  I  couldn't  hold 
in  any  longer  ;  fur  though  I'm  dreadful  easy  to  please,  I  ain't 
a-goin'  to  be  rode  over  ;  so  as  I  wor  all-createdly  riled,  I  jest  up 
anJ  let  'em  hev  it.  You  may  question  all  yeou  want,  says  I,  an' 
answer  too,  for  all  thar  good  that  yeou'll  git  from  it,  for  I  con- 
sider yeou  a  swarin',  drinkiu',  keard-playin'  lot  of  thieves  an'  no 
account  cusses.  I  wor  a-goin'  to  hev  told  'em  a  heap  more,  but 
they  jest  sidled  by  me  inter  the  buildin',  an'  in  a  minit,  they  wor 
all  over  it.  Wael,  yeou  see,  thar  wor  a  man  a-stoppin'  with  us 
— a  stranger  that  wor  drivin'  a  settler's  team — and  so  thar  Mie 
sourians,  when  they  found  it  out,  went  straight  up  to  his  bed — 
fur  bein'  powerful  tired  he  wor  a-sleepin'  up  in  the  loft  ;  and 
when  they  got  whar  his  bed  wor,  they  didn't  say  a  word,  but 
one  on  'em  wakened  him  up,  while  t'other  one  cocks  a  pistol  and 
sets  it  to  his  year.  An'  so  they  kept  on  askin'  him  questions 
about  who  he  wor,  an'  whar  he  wor  from  ;  and  about  what  he 
hed  in  his  wagon  :  an'  every  answer  he'd  make  the  feller  that 
held  the  pistol  kinder  mcide  a  motion  with  it,  till  thar  poor  man 


318 


SQUIRE  PORTLY  GETS  THE  HEAVES. 


wor  that  skeared  that  his  eyes  seemed  nigh  onto  '  stickin'  out' 
of  his  head  ;  an'  then,  as  ef  they  hadn't  done  enough  already, 
the  man  with  thar  pistol  lets  it  go  off,  as  be  allowed  by  accident, 
but  I  jest  expect  it  wor  done  a-purpose,  an'  thar  ball  went 
through  thar  floor  an'  down  inter  thar  room  below,  whar  my 
married  darter,  Weturnpky — the  peart  gal  I  wor  tellin'  yeou  on, 
stranger — wor  a-standing  underneath,  and. — But  yeou  ain't 
a-goin,  air  yeou,  stranger,  fur  I've  only  jest  got  started  onto  what  I 
war  a-tellin'  yeou  ;  but  ef  yeou  must  go,  stop  in  when  yeou're 
a-trav'lin'  this  hyar  road  agin  ;  the  Judge  will  be  powerful  glad 
to  see  yeou,  and  then  I'll  jest  tell  yeou  all  about  it  ;  fur  it's 
curous,  stranger,  an'  jest  shows  up  them  Border  Ruffians  to  be 
what  they  air." 

Here  old  Portly  slipped  out,  and  we  followed  him,  leaving  the 
garrulous  dame  to  continue  her  interminable  narrative,  or 
reserve  it  as  she  sawr  fit,  until  the  arrival  of  some  more  Job-like 
victim.  We  remarked,  by  the  way,  that  the  Judge  heaved  a 
gentle  sigh  as  he  got  into  the  open  air,  which  may  have  pro- 
ceeded from  that  "  powerful  hard  spell  of  the  phthisic,"  or  it  is 
just  possible,  from  a  sense  of  mental  relief  ;  but  if  you  asked  us 
which,  we  could  only  refer  you  to  "  his  Honor,"  and  say,  i  Quien 
sabe  ? 

As  the  weather  was  cold — the  foot-path  slippery — and  our 
short-winded  companion  greatly  troubled  with  "  the  heaves,"  our 
walk  to  Barber's  claim  was  of  the  longest,  and  even  upon  reach- 
ing it  we  were  again  delayed  by  the  absence  of  Barber  himself, 
who  did  not  make  his  appearauce,  until  a  white-headed  little 
youngster  had  been  sent  to  tell  him  that  "  a  gentleman  from 
York  State  was  up  at  the  house  and  wanted  to  see  him." 

We  found  this  Mr.  Barber  a  quiet,  plain,  inoffensive  seem- 
ing sort  of  man.  Upon  explaining  to  him  the  nature  of  our 
business  in  Kansas,  as  also  our  desire  to  obtain  a  reliable  state- 
went  of  the  facts  connected  with  his  brother's  death,  he  very 


THE  SHOOTING  OF  THOMAS  W.  BARBER. 


319 


kindly  promised  to  give  us  an  account  of  this  tragical  affair,  in 
which  he  himself,  in  company  with  his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Peir- 
son,  had  been  a  prominent  actor. 

So  we  produced  our  note-book,  while  the  settler's  wife  hunted 
up  the  ink,  which  was  at  length  discovered  at  the  bottom  of  as 
heterogeneous  a  mass  of  "  plunder"  as  was  ever  gathered  together, 
even  beneath  the  rafters  of  a  Far- Western  log-cabin.  And 
now  we  would  call  the  attention  of  the  reader  to  the  following  : 

STATEMENT  OF  ROBERT  F.  BARBER,  IN  RELATION  TO  THE  CIRCUMSTANCES 
ATTENDING  THE  SHOOTING  OF  HIS  BROTHER,  THOMAS  W.  BARBER,  BY  A  PARTY 
OF  THE  PRO-SLAVERY  FORCES,  IN  THE  MONTH  OF  DECEMBER,  1855. 

Note. — Robert  F.  Barber,  late  of  Preble  County,  Ohio,  and  now  a  resi- 
dent of  Kansas  Territory,  makes  the  following  statement,  which  has  been 
read  over  to  him,  and  to  which  he  is  willing  to  make  affidavit  when  legally 
required. 

On  or  about  the  6th  of  December,  1855,  at  1  o'clock,  p.  m.,  I  left  Law- 
rence (K.  T.),  in  company  with  my  brother,  Thomas  W.  Barber,  and  my 
brother-in-law,  Thomas  M.  Peirson  ;  we  were  all  mounted ;  I  was  provided 
with  a  Colt's  Navy  Revolver,  and  Peirson  had  a  small  (5  inch)  Colt's  Re- 
volver, but  Thomas  W.  Barber  was  entirely  unarmed.  We  were  on  our 
way  to  our  homes,  distant  about  seven  miles  from  Lawrence,  and  had  rid- 
den some  three  and  a  half  miles,  when  we  observed  a  party  of  from  twelve 
to  fifteen  mounted  men  to  the  right  of  the  California  road,  in  which  we 
were  travelling.  This  party  was  apparently  making  directly  for  it.  They 
were  over  half  a  mile  from  us  when  we  first  saw  them.  We  then  left  the 
California  trail,  to  take  a  cross  road,  to  the  left,  which  was  the  shorter  one 
'o  our  residences ;  this  was  immediately  after  we  discovered  the  horsemen. 
We  had  at  this  time  no  idea  that  they  intended  to  interrupt  us,  nor  did  we 
quit  the  highway  for  the  purpose  of  avoiding  them.  We  had  left  the  main 
road  by  some  half  a  mile,  when  we  saw  two  of  these  mounted  men  advanc- 
ing before  the  rest,  as  if  to  cut  us  off ;  this  they  did  by  approaching  us  on 
our  right,  and  placing  themselves  in  front  of  us,  or  nearly  so.  They  came 
up  at  a  trot,  while  we  were  walking  our  horses.  The  remainder  of  the  ap- 
proaching party  had  in  the  meanwhile  halted  in  full  sight  of  us,  but  at  a 
distance  of  from  two  to  four  hundred  yards. 


320 


ROBERT  F.   BARBER'S  STATEMENT. 


One  of  the  men  who  rode  up  to.  us  was  mounted  upon  a  grey  horse; 

he  was  heavily  built,  with  a  broad  face,  and  I  believe  whiskers.  The  other 
seemed  a  tall,  well-made  person,  dressed,  if  I  remember  right,  in  dark 
clothing,  and  mounted  upon  a  sorrel  horse. 

I  think  that  the  man  on  the  grey  horse  acted  as  their  spokesman ;  whea 
they  came  up  and  halted,  the  man  on  the  sorrel  stood  a  little  off  the  road, 
but  close  to  it,  and  to  the  left  of  his  companion  who  had  checked  his  ani- 
mal in  the  road,  not  more  than  a  couple  of  yards  from  our  horses'  heads, 
and  directly  in  front  of  us.  The  man  on  the  grey  horse  then  ordered  us 
to  halt,  and  we  did  so  immediately.  Upon  coming  to  a  stand,  the  position 
of  our  party  was  as  follows  : — 

My  brother  Thomas  W.  Barber  was  beside  me,  and  on  my  right,  while 
my  brother-in-law,  Peirson,  was  a  little  to  my  left,  and  in  our  rear ;  we 
were  all  in  the  road. 

After  halting  us,  the  rider  of  the  grey  horse  asked,  "  Where  are  yon 
going  ?"  My  brother  Thomas  W.  Barber — who  answered  for  our  party — 
replied,  "  We  are  going  home."  He  then  asked  us,  "  Where  are  you 
from  ?"  my  brother  answered,  "  We  are  from  Lawrence."  "  What  is  going 
on  in  Lawrence  ?"  was  the  next  question.  "  Nothing  in  particular,"  said 
my  brother.  "Nothing  in  particular,  hey?"  replied  the  man.  He  then 
added,  "  We  have  orders  from  the  Governor  to  see  the  laws  executed  in 
Kansas."  Thomas  W.  Barber  then  asked,  "  What  laws  have  we  dis- 
obeyed ?"  Upon  hearing  this,  the  rider  of  the  grey  horse  raised  his  hand 
and  pointed  towards  his  party,  at  the  same  time  exclaiming,  "  Then,  turn 
your  horse's  heads  and  go  with  us."  My  brother  then  said,  "We  won't 
do  it."  "  You  won't,  hey  ?"  said  their  spokesman,  at  the  same  time  start- 
ing off  with  his  horse  so  as  to  bring  him  on  the  right  side  of  my  brother 
— who  moved  his  horse's  head  slightly  towards  him,  as  he  did  so.  The  man 
drew  his  pistol  as  he  started,  but  halted  on  reaching  his  new  position  to  the 
right  of  my  brother — I  can't  say  what  the  rider  of  the  sorrel  was  doing 
in  the  meanwhile,  for  their  spokesman  rode  between  him  and  my  brother, 
and  my  attention  was  at  that  moment  taken  up  with  drawing  my  own  pistol, 
which  was  belted  on  behind  my  back,  in  such  a  manner  that  I  was  obliged 
to  seize  it  with  my  left  hand ;  this  I  did  under  the  belief  that  we  were 
about  to  be  attacked.  As  I  was  changing  it  into  my  right  hand  to  fire, 
I  saw  their  spokesman — the  man  on  the  grey  horse — discharge  his  pistol 
at  my  brother.  I  did  not  think  at  the  time  that  my  brother  was  hit.  This 
man,  after  firing  at  my  brother,  rode  right  round  into  the  road,  and  halted 
some  ten  paces  in  our  rear.    I  wheeled  my  horse  and  shot  at  him,  but 


barber's  last  words. 


321 


missed  ;  I  cannot  say  that  he  returned  my  fire,  but  on  changing  my  position 
I  saw  the  smoke  of  the  pistol  of  the  man  on  the  sorrel,  who  was  still  in 
his  old  postion.  I  then  fired  a  second  barrel  at  him,  but  missed,  as  T  had 
done  before. 

After  I  had  fired  at  the  man  on  the  sorrel  horse,  he  rode  up  to  his  com- 
panion, and  on  reaching  him  they  exchanged  a  word  or  two  which  I  could 
not  distinctly  hear,  and  then  galloped  off  towards  their  party.  As  they 
started  I  fired  at  them  again,  for  the  third  time,  but  with  no  better  suc- 
cess. "We  still  stood  firm  in  our  tracks,  not  having  moved  our  horses 
except  to  wheel  them,  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  the  affray. 

The  main  body  of  horsemen  was  still  halted,  but  full  in  sight.  Thomas 
W.  Barber  then  turned  to  us  and  said,  "  Boys,  let  us  be  off ;"  we  started 
accordingly,  at  a  gallop,  on  our  road.  At  this  time,  the  two  men  were 
still  galloping  towards  their  party.  My  brother  and  myself  rode  side  by 
side  ;  my  brother-in-law,  Peirson,  who  had  a  slower  horse,  following  in  our 
rear.  After  riding  in  this  manner  for  about  a  hundred  yards,  my 
brother  said  to  me,  "  That  fellow  shot  me ;"  he  §miled  as  he  said  so.  I 
asked  him,  "Where  are  you  shot  ?"  He  pointed  to  his  right  side.  I  then 
remarked,  "It  is  not  possible,  Thomas?"  To  this  he  replied,  "It  is,"  at 
the  same  time  smiling  again.  I  do  not  think  that  he  realized  how  badly 
he  was  hurt.  After  uttering  these — his  last  words — he  dropped  his  rein, 
and  reeled  in  his  saddle ;  seeing  that  he  was  about  to  fall,  I  caught  hold 
of  him  by  the  left  shoulder,  grasping  the  loose  overcoat  which  he  wore. 
I  held  him  thus  for  nearly  a  hundred  yards ;  I  could  then  hold  him  no 
longer,  and  he  fell  to  the  ground ;  as  he  did  so,  I  slipped  from  my  horse, 
at  the  same  time  calling  out  "  Whoa  ;"  both  horses  stopped  immediately ; 
I  bent  over  my  brother,  and  found  that  he  was  dead,  and  felt  that  we 
could  do  nothing  for  him.  As  Peirson  and  myself  stood  in  the  road  con- 
sulting, we  saw  the  other  party  riding  towards  us,  and  thinking  that  we 
could  accomplish  nothing  by  remaining  where  we  were,  I  said  to  Peirson, 
"We  had  better  be  off."  He  objected,  saying,  "If  we  ride  away,  they 
may  overtake  and  kill  us ;  we  had  better  stay  where  we  are,  and  let  them 
take  us  prisoners."  I  replied,  "I  will  die  before  they  shall  take  me  pris- 
oner." He  then  agreed  to  go,  saying,  "  Let  us  be  off  as  fast  as  we  can." 
We  galloped  on  accordingly.  After  riding  nearly  a  mile,  Peirson  asked 
me  if  I  saw  any  one  coming?  I  looked  back,  and  discovered  two  men  gal- 
loping in  pursuit.  Peirson  turned  his  head,  and  perceived  them  also. 
This  was  the  last  I  saw  of  them.  I  am  confident  that  some  of  the  pursuing 
party  must  have  discovered  my  brother's  body,  as  they  were  riding  upon 


322 


THE  FLIGHT. 


<he  hill  where  it  lay.  This  transaction  took  place,  from  beginning  to  end, 
in  an  open  prairie  country,  where  there  was  no  timber  to  shut  out  the 
view. 

Peirson  had  his  revolver  in  his  pantaloons  pocket,  on  the  right  side. 
He  says  that  he  could  not  get  it  out  in  time  to  shoot.  He  certainly  did 
not  fire  during  the  affair.  He  lost  his  pistol,  however,  and  overcoat ;  the 
pistol  he  has  never  seen  since,  as  he  tells  me. 

After  riding  about  three,  miles,  and  finding  that  my  horse  was  "  giving 
out,"  I  dismounted,  feeling  confident  that  the  animal  had  been  wounded 
in  the  affray ;  I  did  not  stop  to  examine  him  at  the  time,  but  supposing 
that  I  was  still  pursued,  left  him  standing  in  the  road,  and  continued  my 
way  homewards  on  foot.  I  afterwards  learned  that  the  horse  had  been 
shot  low  down  behind  the  fore-shoulder,  on  the  right  side.  The  horse 
died  that  night.  I  do  not  know  the  size  of  the  ball  which  killed  the  ani- 
mal ;  I  did  not  look  for  it.  The  carcass  has  been  dragged  away  and 
eaten  by  the  wolves. 

I  think  that  the  man  on  the  grey  horse,  who  shot  at  my  brother,  used 
a  small  (5  inch)  Colt's  revolver. 


A  SUDDEN   AND  TRANQUIL  DEPARTURE. 


323 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

A  VISIT  TO  THE  WIDOW  BARBER. 

One  or  two  persons  who  made  a  superficial  examination  of 
Thomas  W.  Barber's  body,  say  that  the  ball  which  killed  him 
entered  his  right  side,  just  above  the  hip.  There  was  little 
or  no  external  bleeding — there  being  but  a  very  small  spot  of 
blood  visible  on  his  shirt,  and  that  just  opposite  the  wound. 
The  hemorrhage  was  internal.  We  presume  that  this  was  the 
immediate  cause  of  his  death  ;  it  may  also  account  for  the  appa- 
rent absence  of  any  pain,  for  we  are  told  that  the  unfortunate 
man  uttered  not  a  groan — a  smile  was  on  his  face  to  the  last, 
and  still  lingered  round  the  clay-cold  lips  when  they  had  been 
sealed  for  ever. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  no  thorough  post-mortem  examina- 
tion of  the  body  was  made,  for  the  size  of  the  ball,  which  yet 
remains  in  the  corpse — or  if  shattered,  its  weight — will,  doubtless, 
prove  which  of  the  attacking  parties  gave  the  death-wound,  as 
Major  Clarke,  one  of  their  opponents,  was  armed  with  a  small 
Colt's  five  inch  revolver,  while  Col.  Burns,  of  Weston,  Mo.,  his 
companion,  is  stated  to  have  used  a  Colt's  navy  revolver,  which 
carries  a  ball  of  about  two-eights  and  three  thirty-seconds  of  an 
inch  in  diameter — the  barrel  being  seven  and  a  half  inches  in 
length.  The  orifice  of  the  wound  is  described  by  eye  witnesses 
as  being  very  small  ;  one  person  states  not  larger  than  a  buck- 
shot-wound ;  another  informant  says,  "  a  small  pistol  ball." 


324 


WHOM  WAS  HE  KILLED? 


The  importance  of  this  testimony  is,  however,  lessened,  if  not 
made  worthless  from  the  fact  that  the  mouth  of  the  wound  would 
naturally  close  somewhat,  and  perhaps  entirely,  after  death.  It 
must  be  remembered  also,  that  no  examination  of  the  body  took 
place  until  twenty-four  hcmrs  after  the  affray.  It  will  be  per- 
ceived too  that  there  is  some  discrepancy  in  the  statements  of  Bar- 
ber and  Peirson,  as  to  the  size  of  the  pistol  used  by  the  man  on 
the  grey  horse  (which  would  appear  to  have  been  Major  Clarke, 
who  answers  to  the  description  of  a  heavily-built,  broad-faced 
man).  Barber  thinks  that  the  man  who  shot  his  brother  had  a 
small  "five  inch"  pistol — such  as  Clarke  is  reported  to  have 
used — while  Peirson  seems  equally  confident  that  his  brother-in- 
law  was  killed  by  a  ball  fired  from  a  navy  revolver.  Peirson 
and  the  two  Barbers  were,  at  the  time  of  this  affray,  regularly 
enrolled  as  privates  of  the  Bloomington  Company  (D),  of  the 
1st  Regiment  Kansas  Volunteers,  then  serving  in  Lawrence,  to 
defend  that  place  against  the  so-called  "  Army  of  Invasion," 
under  Governor  Shannon  ;  they  were  absent  on  leave  at  the  time. 

We  presume  that  the  whole  matter — so  far  as  the  result  of  any 
judicial  inquiry  is  concerned — will  hinge  upon  the  authority  of 
Clarke  and  Burns  to  demand  and  compel  the  surrender  of  Barber 
and  his  companions,  and  the  liability  of  the  parties  interfered 
with  to  such  an  arrest. 

Since  writing  the  foregoing,  we  have  been  favored  with  the 
following  extract  from  a  letter  written  R.  M.  Ainsworth,  M.D., 
of  Wvandot,  K.  T.,  a  regularly  educated  physician,  who  made  a 
superficial  post-mortem  examination  of  Barber's  body.  The  let- 
ter is  addressed  to  G.  P.  Lowry,  Esq.,  a  prominent  Free  State 
man  of  Lawrence.   Dr.  Aius  worth  being  of  the  same  persuasion  : 

"  Wyandot  City,  K.  T.  Dec.  23d,  1855. 
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  * 

"While  I  write  I  will  mention  that  I  lately  heard  a  discussion  as  to  the 
cause  of  the  death  oi  Larber.    It  was  stated  that  he  died  from  the  effect 


DOCTOR  SQUILLS  EKJINES  TAKIn'  KEAR. 


325 


of  the  fall  from  his  horse  and  not  from  the  shot.  I  have  had  considerable 
experience  of  gun-shot  wounds  in  the  Pennsylvania  Hospital,  and  else- 
where. I  examinedthe  body  of  Barber,  and  I  pronounced  his  wound  fatal, 
the  missile  having  passed  through  a  vital  part. 

(Signed,)  "R.  M.  Aixsworth." 

Having  taken  down  Barber's  testimony,  we  inquired  for  the 
residence  of  his  brother-in-law,  Peirson,  which,  as  we  had  been 
told,  was  situated  upon  the  prairie,  at  a  distance  of  some  half 
or  three  quarters  of  a  mile  from  the  "  Barber  Claim."  On  being 
informed  that  we  contemplated  going  there,  the  settler,  very  good 
naturedly,  remarked  that  he  would  walk  with  us.  Upon  hearing 
this,  our  short-winded  friend  Squire  Portly,  hoisted  himself 
out  of  the  hide-bottomed  arm-chair,  in  which  he  had  been  puff- 
ing like  a  high-pressure  engine  from  the  moment  of  our  arrival, 
and  allowed "  that,  as  "it  war  gitting  considerable  late,  he'd 
better  be  a  movin'  towards  home,  for  it  aggravated  his  phthisic 
powerfully  to  stop  out  after  night  ;  an  Doctor  Squills  had  enjined 
on  him  to  be  dreadful  kearful  of  catchin'  cold,  till  thar  warm 
weather  come  agin."  So  we  made  our  farewell  salutations  to  His 
Honor,  and  then  prepared  to  accompany  our  new  acquaintance 
(Barber),  who — with  a  friend  of  his,  one  Jack  Quarter, 
a  Captain  of  Artillery,  in  the  Free  State  Army — had,  as  we 
have  already  hinted,  very  kindly  offered  to  direct  us  in  the  path 
which  led  to  Peirson's  "  Claim  "  (the  word  "  Claim,'1- by  the  way, 
is  generally  used  in  Kansas  in  referring  to  a  settler's  residence, 
that  being  the  title  by  which  he  holds  his  land). 

And  now  let  us  put  before  the  reader  the  statement  of  Peir- 
son, which  we  took  down  in  the  same  manner  as  that  of  Barber, 
by  writing  it  out,  sentence  by  sentence,  from  the  narrator's  dic- 
tation. Having  done  this,  we  will  ask  the  reader  to  accom- 
pany us  upon  our  visit  to  the  cabin,  where  the  Widow  Barber 
has  taken  up  her  abode  since  the  acting  out  of  that  terrible 


326 


peirson's  account  of  the  fight. 


tragedy,  which  so  suddenly  rendered  desolate  this  now  afflicted 

woman's  once  happy  home. 

STATEMENT  OF  THOMAS  M.  PEIRSON,  LATE  A  RESIDENT  OF  HENRY  COUNTY, 
INDIANA,  AND  NOW  A  CITIZEN  OF  KANSAS  TERRITORY,  AS  TO  THE  FACTS  CON- 
NECTED WITH  THE  SHOOTING-  OF  HIS  BROTHER  IN  LAW,  THOMAS  W.  BARBER, 
BY  A  PARTY  OF  THE  PRO-SLAVERY  ARMY,  ON  THE  6TH  OF  DEC,  1855. 

On  the  6th  of  Dec,  1855,  at  about  1  o'clock,  p.  m.,  I  left  Lawrence  in 
company  with  my  brothers-in-law,  Thomas  W.  and  Robert  F.  Barber.  We 
were  all  mounted  and  on  our  way  to  our  homes,  some  seven  miles  distant  from 
Lawrence.  I  was  armed  with  a  small  Colt's  revolver,  which  I  carried  in 
my  right  pantaloons  pocket.  Robert  F.  Barber  had  a  Colt's  Navy  revolver. 
Thomas  W.  Barber  had  no  arms  of  any  kind. 

We  followed  the  California  road  for  three  miles  or  more,  when  we  turned 
off  the  highway  to  take  a  cross-road  which  led  to  the  left,  towards  oar 
homes.  Just  before  doing  so,  and  while  still  in  the  California  road,  I  saw 
ly^irty  of  from  12  to  15  mounted  men  to  the  right  of  the  trail,  and  some 
nfifa  mile  or  mile  distant,  they  appeared  to  be  coming  towards  the  Cali- 
fornia road.  In  a  few  minutes  I  saw  two  men  detach  themselves  from  the 
main  body  and  ride  forward  at  a  quicker  gait,  as  if  to  cut  us  off.  We 
were  riding  fast  at  the  time,  but  immediately  slackened  our  speed  to  a 
walk,  so  as  to  give  these  people  no  excuse  for  interfering  with  us.  We 
had  no  idea  at  that  time,  that  they  intended  to  molest  us.  We  had  ridden 
about  a  mile  in  the  cross-road,  when  these,  two  men  who  had  taken  a 
shorter  cut,  got  ahead  of  us,  and  came  in  from  the  right,  at  a  trot.  They  rod  • 
side  by  side.  One  of  them  halted  directly  in  front  of  us  in  the  road,  and 
within  a  few  feet  of  our  horses'  heads.  He  was  a  stout,  thick-set  man.  I 
don't  think  he  was  tall,  believe  he  had  a  moustache,  but  can't  say  certainly. 
He  was  riding  a  grey  horse.  His  companion  took  his  position  to  the  right, 
and  a  little  in  our  rear,  near  the  edge  of  the  road.  Don't  remember 
anything  of  his  appearance,  except  that  he  was  riding  a  sorrel  horse. 

The  man  on  the  grey  horse  did  all  the  talking  on  their  side,  and  Thomas 
W.  Barber  answered  every  question  except  one,  on  ours.  The  man  on  the 
grey  horse  ordered  us  to  halt;  we  did  so.  He  asked,  "Where  are  you 
going?"  T.  W.  Barber  answered,  "Home."  "Where  were  we  from?" 
Barber  replied,  "  From  Lawrence."  "  What  was  going  ou  there  ?"  was 
their  next  question.  I  think  two  of  us  replied  to  this.  They  then  asked  som« 


HE  IS  DEAD. 


327 


luestions  in  regard  to  the  Kansas  difficulties.  Thomas  W.  Barber  stated 
n  reply,  that  he  did  not  think  that  either  we  or  the  people  of  Lawrence 
lad  violated  any  laws.  The  thick-set  man  then  ordered  us  to  "  turn  back.'* 
?homas  W.  Barber  said,  "  We  can't  go  back,  we  want  to  go  home."  Our 
josition  at  this  time  was  as  follows :  I  think  that  I  was  a  little  in  the  rear 
>f  the  Barbers,  and  to  their  left,  my  brothers  in  law  were  side  by  side, 
Thomas  W.  Barber  being  on  the  right. 

I  did  not  see  the  main  body  of  our  opponents  until  after  we  had  ridden 
lalf  a  mile  on  the  cross  road ;  they  were  then  advancing  at  a  trot. 

Upon  our  refusing  to  go  with  them,  the  man  on  the  grey  immediately 
vheeled  -his  horse  towards  us,  rather  facing  Thomas  W.  Barber,  drew  his 
)istol,  and,  taking  a  deliberate  aim,  as  I  judged,  from  the  way  in  which  he 
leld  his  weapon,  fired  at  Thomas.  I  think  the  pistol  was  a  navy  revolver. 
'.  saw  Thomas  settle  down  in  his  saddle  as  the  pistol  was  discharged.  I 
nought  he  was  hit.  The  man  on  the  sorrel  horse  fired  immediately,  the 
•epoi  ts  of  the  two  pistols  were  almost  simultaneous.  We  had  not  fired  at  that 
ime.  As  they  drew  their  weapons,  Kobert  F.  Barber  drew  his  pistol  and 
ired  three  times  without  success.  I  was  trying,  but  without  success,  to 
Iraw  my  pistol.  I  did  not  attempt  to  draw  it  until  I  saw  our  opponents 
Jrawing  theirs,  when  I  finally  got  it  out,  our  opponents  had  wheeled  and 
ffere  galloping  off  towards  their  party.  Thomas  then  said  "Let  us  be  off." 
We  started  accordingly  at  the  top  of  our  horses'  speed,  the  Barbers  rid- 
ng  almost  in  front  of  me,  and  I  following  in  their  rear.  We  rode  on  thus  for 
some  two  hundred  yards  or  more,  when  Thomas  W.  Barber  fell  from  his 
horse.  I  had  noticed  before  he  fell  that  his  brother  was  supporting  him 
in  his  saddle,  in  which  he  seemed  unable  to  sit,  as  he  had  dropped  his 
rein.  Robert  F.  Barber  stopped  the  horses  and  dismounted,  as  his  brother 
fell;  he  went  and  looked  at  him.  I  did  not  dismount.  Barber  said  "He  is 
dead."  We  consulted  as  to  what  we  should  do.  I  said,  Perhaps  we  can 
take  him  before  us  on  the  horse.  I  had  barely  uttered  the  words,  when  I 
saw  the  party  advancing  upon  us  again,  that  is  to  say,  that  portion  of  them 
who  had  got  over  the  hill.  We  supposed  it  to  be  the  same  party  which 
we  had  just  seen;  they  were  some  two  hundred  yards  distant.  We  then 
mounted  our  horses,  and,  supposing  that  we  should  be  murdered  if  over- 
taken, left  Barber's  body  and  started  off  on  a  gallop  towards  home. 

I  supposed  that  I  had  replaced  my  pistol  in  my  pantaloons  pocket, 
but  afterwards  discovered  that  I  had  lost  it.    I  have  not  seen  it  since. 

Robert  F.  Barber's  horse  was  mortally  wounded  in  the  affray,  and  died 
that  night. 


328  THE  DESOLATED  HOME. 

♦ 

We  have  now  put  the  reader,  very  minutely,  in  possession  of 
the  circumstances  attending  this  tragical  affair,  as  they  are 
stated  by  Barber  and  Peirson,  whose  account  is,  of  course, 
adopted  by  the  Free  State  party,  and  we  have  taken  great 
pains  in  procuring  this  testimony — for  the  killing  of  Barber  is 
in  every  one's  mouth — has  been  garbled  by  the  local  press  on 
both  sides,  and,  we  regret  to  add,  made  a  source  of  political  cap- 
ital against  the  Pro-Slavery  faction.  It  cannot,  however,  be 
denied,  that  there  is,  in  this  matter,  no  mean,  between  the  ex- 
tremes of  murder  and  justifiable  homicide.  It  was  either  an  assassi- 
nation, or  a  legalized  or  military  taking  away  of  life,  growing 
out  of  the  unfortunate  man's  refusal  to  obey  the  stern  require 
ments  of  martial  law,  in  which  latter  case,  the  agents  of  that 
law  must  be  held  blameless.  With  this  question,  and  its  ?aat 
field  of  evidence,  we  shall  have  nothing  to  do  ;  we  are  not  colled 
upon  to  decide.  It  must  finally  be  settled  by  a  judicial  inquiry, 
which,  if  we  mistake  not,  will  be  obliged  to  carry  its  investiga- 
tion far  back  of  the  mere  actors  in  this  lamentable  affair.  Who 
brought  on  this  war  ?  who  raised  these  opposing  armies  ?  whos 
furnished  men  and  arms  ?  who  authorized  them  to  act,  and  from 
whence  did  they  derive  their  authority  ?  These  are  all  questions 
which  will  be  asked,  and  must  be  met  by  the  responsible  parties. 
Public  sentiment  will  demand  it,  and  then,  let  those  who  are  in- 
nocent clear  their  skirts. 

But  come — let  us  change  the  scene  ;  forget,  for  a  time,  the 
mere  party  interest  in  this  matter,  and  gaze  with  us  upon  that 
darker  picture,  which,  alas  !  for  poor  Humanity,  so  seldom 
struggles  out  into  the  light  ;  bear  with  us  then,  for  a  moment, 
while  we  tell  you  of  our  visit  to  the  widow's  desolated  home. 

It  stand?,  upon  the  bleak  prairie  ;  a  shelter — for  it  merits  no 
better  tit'e — of  two  rooms.  We  entered  it  in  company  with 
the  brother  of  the  deceased,  just  as  the  darkness  of  a  stormy 
winter  evening  was  gathering  over  the  snow-clad  slopes  of  the 


A  SINCERE  MOURNER. 


329 


long,  treeless  prairie  rolls.  The  room  into  which  we  were  shown 
seemed  comfortlessly  furnished,  not  from  any  lack  of  means,  but 
from  the  difficulty  of  procuring  such  matters  in  a  newly-settled 
country  ;  two  or  three  females  and  children  were  crowding  up 
to  the  stove,  for  the  night  was  bitter  cold,  and  even  a  large 
wood  fire  scarce  heated  an  apartment  so  slightly  walled.  Between 
a  heavy  pine  table,  on  which  a  flaring  tallow  candle  stood 
flickering  and  sweltering  in  its  socket,  and  the  half-curtaiued 
window,  against  which  the  sleet  and  biting  winter  wind  beat 
drearily,  sat  a  woman  of  some  forty  years  of  age,  plainly  clad 
in  a  dress  of  coarse  dark  stuff ;  she  was  leaning  forward  as  we 
entered,  and  seemed  unmindful  of  all  about  her.  It  needed  no 
introduction  to  tell  us  that  this  was  the  widow  of  Thomas  W. 
Barber,  the  sole  victim  of  the  otherwise  bloodless  "  Kansas 
War."  No,  the  thin  hand  which  supported  the  aching  head, 
and  half  shielded  the  tear-dimmed  eyes,  as  well  as  the  silent 
drops  that  came  trickling  slowly  down  those  wasted  cheeks,  had 
already  told  the  story.  What  could  we  say  in  the  way  of  con- 
solation ?  What  was  the  cause  of  "  Kansas  and  liberty "  to 
her?  Could  the  success  of  a  party,  or  the  advancement  of 
a  principle,  dry  those  burning  tears  ?  Could  they  soothe  the 
sorrows  of  what  she  herself  has  called  "  a  poor  heart-broken 
creature  ?"  Oh,  ye  demagogues  !  ye  peace-breakers  !  ye  incen- 
diary orators,  of  both  North  and  South,  whose  aim  it  is  to 
urge  on  a  strife,  that  you  yourselves,  are  not  slow  to  avoid  ! 
could  you  but  have  stood  beside  us,  in  her  once  happy  home, 
and  have  listened  to  the  broken  sentences,  uttered  with  all 
that  unstudied  pathos,  which  an  agonized  and  grief-torn  spirit 
alone  can  give,  we  hope,  for  the  sake  of  our  common  humanity, 
that  the  lesson  would  have  sunk  deep  into  your  hearts.  Hear 
what  she  says : — 

"  They  have  left  me  a  poor  forsaken  creature,  to  mourn  all 
my  days.    Oh,  my  husband  !  they  have  taken  from  me  all  that 


330 


THE  ONLY  VICTIM  OF  THE  WAR. 


I  held  dear — oiie  that  I  loved  better  than  I  loved  my  own 

life." 

These  are  her  very  words.    We  have  added  nothing  to  them, 

nor  have  we  taken  aught  from  them. 

There  are  circumstances  connected  with  the  life  and  character 
of  the  man  Barber,  which  make  his  death  more  particularly  to 
be  deplored.  He  adds  another  to  the  long  list  of  victims 
who  have  been  sacrificed  to  the  demon  of  political  excite- 
ment. Barber  is  spoken  of  as  a  quiet,  inoffensive,  and  amia- 
ble man  ;  domestic  and  unexceptionable  in  his  habits,  and  deeply 
attached  to  his  wife,  to  whom  he  had  been  married  between 
nine  and  ten  years.  He  was,  moreover,  the  leading  man  among 
the  agriculturists  in  his  neighborhood  ;  a  lover  of  fine  stock  ;  and 
a  careful,  pains-taking  farmer  ;  such  at  least  is  the  reputation  which 
he  bore  in  Ohio,  the  State  from  whence  he  emigrated.  He  was 
unarmed  when  he  received  his  death-wound,  and  on  his  way 
to  his  home.  His  wife,  to  whom  he  had  written  to  inform  her 
of  his  coming,  was  expecting  him.  She  is  said  to  have  loved 
her  husband  with  more  than  ordinary  devotion.  Her  sister-iu- 
law  tells  us  that  they  used  to  rally  her,  upon  her  almost  girlish 
affection  and  solicitude  for  Thomas.  It  was  her  habit,  when  she 
saw  him  coming  back  from  his  work,  to  leave  the  house,  and  go 
forth  to  meet  him  on  his  way.  If  he  failed  to  return  at  the 
time  indicated,  she  grew  anxious  ;  and  if  his  stay  was  prolonged, 
oftentimes  passed  the  night  in  tears  ;  when  ill— the  same  in- 
formant tells  us — she  would  hang  over  his  bed,  with  all  the  anx- 
iety of  a  mother  for  her  child.  She  would  seem,  to^  to  nave 
had  a  presentiment  of  some  impending  evil,  for  after  exhausting 
every  argument  to  prevent  her  husband  from  going  to  join  the 
Free  State  forces  in  Lawrence,  she  said,  "Oh,  Thomas,  if  you 
should  be  shot,  I  should  be  all  alone  indeed  ;  remember  I  have 
no  child — nothing  in  the  wide  world  to  fill  your  place."  And  this 
was  their  last  parting.    The  intelligence  of  his  death  was  kept 


A  HEART-RENDING  SCENE. 


Sol 


from  her — in  mercy — through  the  kindness  of  her  friends,  but 
only  to  be  announced,  without  the  slightest  preparation,  by  a 
young  man,  who  had  been  sent  out  from  Lawrence,  with  a  car- 
riage, to  bring  her  in  to  the  Free  State  Hotel,  where  her  hus- 
band's body  had  been  laid.  Upon  arriving  at  the  house  where 
Mrs.  Barber  was,  he  rode  up,  most  unthinkingly,  and  shouted, 
:( Thomas  Barber  is  killed."  His  widow  beard  the  dreadful 
tidings,  rushed  to  the  door,  cried,  "  Oh,  God  !  what  do  I  hear  ?" 
and  then  filled  the  room  with  her  shrieks.  We  have  heard,  too, 
i  description  of  the  heart-rending  scene,  which  took  place  when 
they  brought  her  into  the  apartment  where  her  husband's  body 
lay  ;  of  her  throwing  herself  upon  his  corpse,  and  kissing  the 
lead  man's  face  ;  of  the  fearful  imprecations,  which,  in  her  mad- 
ness, she  called  down  upon  the  heads  of  those  who  had  separa- 
:ed  her  from  all  that  she  held  dear  ;  and  these  things  were  re- 
ated  to  us  by  men,  who  turned  shudderingly  away,  from  the 
exhibition  of  a  sorrow  which  no  earthly  power  could  assuage, 
[t  is,  moreover,  stated  that  her  companions  were  obliged  to 
lold  her  forcibly  down  in  tKe  carriage,  from  whence  her  frantic 
exclamations  rang  out  along  the  prairie,  as  they  conveyed  her 
rom  her  home,  to  the  chamber  of  the  dead. 


3°2 


A  RATHER  DANGEROUS  EXCURSION 


CHAPTER  XXXIY. 


A  SNOWY  NIGHT  IN  A  SETTLER?S  CABIN. 


January  1th,  Evening. — We  are  back  again  in  our  accustoraee 
seat,  at  the  "best  hotel"  in  Lawrence,  having  arrived  by  ou; 
own  private  conveyance  (Shank's  mare),  some  two  hours  ago.  Wi 
find  matters  and  things  at  the  "Cincinnati"  in  very  much  thi| 
same  condition  as  they  were  when  we  left  here  yesterday  morning 
to  make  our  "hegira"to  Judge  Portly's.  The  old  lady  hai 
grown  no  stouter  ;  the  long-tongued  damsel  no  less  talkative1 
while  the  red  hot  stove  at  our  back,  the  wrangling  of  the  politi 
cal  disputants  at  our  side,  and  the  stifling  air  of  this  over-heated 
sitting-room  are,  we  regret  to  say,  quite  as  annoying  as  tfee; 
ever  were  Add  to  these,  that  "Our  Correspondent "  has  a  first 
class  nervous  headache,  and,  then,  for  sweet  charity's  sake,  if  noj 
for  ours,  make  all  due  allowances  for  the  shortcomings  of  this  day'; 
log.  So,  having  written  our  preamble,  let  us  "go  back  to  fchl 
beginning,"  and  take  up  the  thread  of  our  interrupted  narrative 

We  were,  if  we  mistake  not,  at  "  Peirson's  Claim,"  fronj 
whence  we  sallied  forth,  after  completing  our  note-taking,  witl 
our  friends  Barber  and  Captain  Jack  Quarter,  as  guides,  to  line 
our  way  across  the  prairie,  back  to  the  residence  of  the  firs 
named  individual,  at  whose  cabin  we  had  been  invited  to  spen< 
the  night.  Nor  was  our  walk  thither  either  a  pleasant,  or  foi 
that  matter,  a  very  safe  excursion  ;  for  in  the  three  hours  whiclj 
had  elapsed  since  our  arrival  at  Peirson's,  there  had  been,  wha 


CAPTAIN  JACK  QUARTER 


333 


;he  "  clerk  of  the  weather  n  might  have  called,  a  "  perturbation  n 
n  the  atmosphere  •  in  fact,  a  sombre  winter  evening  had  gone 
rom  bad  to  worse,  by  transforming  itself  into  a  boisterous 
January  night,  whose  intense  darkness,  would  have  rendered  it 
efficiently  difficult  to  find  our  way,  through  the  accumulated 
Irifts  which  had  obliterated  every  vestige  of  a  trail  across  the 
)rairie,  even  without  the  additional  disadvantage  of  a  driving 
now-storm,  which  beat  blindingly  in  our  faces,  and  made  us 
airly  bow  our  heads  as  we  turned  to  face  its  fury  upon  our 
lomeward  track.  Fortunately  for  us,  however,  we  had  an 
;xcellent  guide  in  Gaptain  Jack  Quarter,  who  being  an  old 
;ailor.  piloted  us  by  the  direction  of  the  wind,  which  was  blow- 
ng  a  gale  from  the  north-west,  in  which  direction,  or  nearly  so, 
)ur  true  course  lay.  But  notwithstanding  the  feeling  of  security 
tfhich  was  engendered  by  the  Captain's  assurance,  that  "  though 
t  blew  great  guns,  and  had  a  dirty  look  to  windward,  he'd 
mng  us  safely  into  harbor  for  all  that,"  it  was  with  no  little 
Measure — not  to  mention  a  certain  feeling  of  relief — that  we 
iaught  the  first  glimpse  of  the  ruddy  light  which  gleamed  forth 
nto  the  darkness,  like  a  messenger  of  welcome,  from  the  low  case- 
nent  of  Barber's  solitary  cabin.  A  few  minutes  later,  found  us 
:hawing  out  over  the  cooking-stove,  where  a  hot  supper  was  in 
process  of  preparation,  under  the  supervision  of  the  settler's 
ivife,  a  clever  little  body,  who  bustled  about  cheerfully,  as  she 
lid  what  tidy  hands  could  do,  to  render  her  frontier  home  com- 
'ortable,  at  least  so  far  as  its  rude  accommodations  would  permit, 
;o  her  husband's  unexpected  guests. 
"  What  would  you  have  done,"  said  we  to  the  Captain,  when 
were  once  more  safely  housed,  "  if  we  had  lost  our  way  upon 
;he  prairie  V* 

"  Done,"  replied  the  Captain,  after  a  moment's  thought  ; 
'  why  I  should  have  got  into  a  hollow,  and  if  possible  found  t-he 
ee-side  of  a  hill  ;  and  then  I  would  have  picked  me  out  a  path 


334 


BLOWING  GREAT  GUNS. 


fifteen  or  twenty  yards  long,  where  I  could  have  had  the  wine 
at  my  side,  and  walked  it  back  and  forth,  like  a  skipper  on  hi; 
quarter-deck,  till  morning.  And  now  that  I  have  answerec 
your  questions,  do  you  know  what  I  would  have  done  if,  having 
lost  our  way,  you  should  have  tried  to  go  to  sleep  V 

"  Why,  as  for  that  I  could  scarcely  say.  Wake  me  up,  per 
haps." 

"  Wake  you  up,"  cried  the  Captain.  "  Yes,  I'de  have  abusee 
you,  picked  a  quarrel  with  you,  pitched  into  you,  and  then  kep 
you  warm,  and  myself,  too,  by  thrashing  you  until  we  had  ligfa 
enough  to  find  a  shelter  by." 

We  thanked  our  friend  for  his  kind  intentions  ;  but  expressei 
a  hope  that  we  might,  on  everybody's  account,  never  be  unde: 
the  necessity  of  putting  him  to  the  trouble  of  so  fatiguing  ai 
exercise. 

And  now,  good  pen,  whip  up  ;  increase  your  pace,  or  m 
shall  be  "  most  froze,"  and  for  aught  we  know  to  the  contraryt 
"  winter"  upon  paper  at  some  settler's  cabin  on  the  prairie.  So  le 
us  knock  out  the  adjuncts  and  shorten  our  sentences. 

Ten  o'clock,  p.  m. — Supper  over — storm  worse  than  ever- 
everybody  very  cold.    Half  an  hour  later — storm  doing  badlj 
and  everybody  much  colder.     Midnight — storm  terrific — fir 
gone  out — wood  ditto,  and  no  more  to  be  had  until  morning 
Somebody  proposes  "  going  to  bed."     Everybody  embrace 
somebody's  idea.    Settler's  wife  disappears  into  "the  other  hal 
of  the  house,"  for  its  single  board  partition  makes  a  very  in: 
partial  division  of  this  two  room  establishment.    Settler's  wif 
bustles  about,  is  evidently  "setting  things  to  rights" — returns- 
presents  us  with  a  tallow  dip  in  a  log-cabin  candlestick,  sa 
having  done  so,  intimates  that  "  our"  room  is  ready — whic 
by  the  way,  includes  the  Captain,  who  is  to  be  our  bed-fe 
low.    We  "  take  the  hint,"  and  make  our  buenas  noches  accor* 
ingly.    We  open  the  partition  door,  and  pop  into  a  chambei 


BOOTS  AND  ALL. 


335 


whose  temperature  suggests  the  idea  of  Parry  and  the  Poles. 
We  could,  without  any  particular  tax  upon  our  imagination, 
fancy  ourself  an  Esquimaux,  who  feels  really  quite  at  home. 
For  there  is — no  exaggeration  by  the  way,  Mr.  Reader — 
about  an  inch  of  snow  upon  the  floor,  not  to  mention  "a 
right  smart  sprinkling"  over  the  bed,  where  it  has  drifted  in 
through  the  badly-built  walls.    In  fact,  the  snow-storm,  which 
is  at  this  moment  doing  its  work,  inside  our  sleeping  apartments, 
is  quite  a  pocket  edition,  or,  perhaps,  one  might  better  call  it  an 
uncorrected  abridgment  of  that  which  is  even  now  "  making  night 
horrible"  without — as  the  wintry  winds  blow  and  roar,  and  scream 
and  call  gustily  to  each  other,'  as  they  brush  the  white  flakes 
from  the  hurrying  wings  which  bear  them  howling  across  the 
unsheltered  plain.    In  view  of  these  circumstances  we  gaze  round 
us  as  we  enter,  in  silent  consternation — it  is  too  late  to  retreat 
—the  settler  and  his  wife  have  already  "  bunked  in"  on  the  floor, 
from  whence  their  long-drawn  snores  already  give  notice  that 
there  are  those  who  mn  go  to  sleep,  the  warfare  of  disagreeing 
elements  to  the  contrary,  notwithstanding,  the  instant  their 
heads  touch  the  pillow.     But  one  cannot  meditate  with  any 
mental  satisfaction — or  for  that  matter,  bodily  either,  when  the 
mercury  says,  eighteen  below  zero — and  the  fire  is  non  est  to 
boot.    So  we  made  up  our  mind,  pulled  off  our. boots,  and 
then  followed  the  example  of  our  illustrious  predecessor,  the 
Captain,  by  plunging  headforemost  into  bed,  with  everything 
ou — as  we  hope  to  be  lucky — except  the  articles  aforesaid. 
Mem.— we  are  not  quite  so  confident  that  our  bed-fellow  took 
}fF  his,  but  as  he  didn't  wear  spurs,  and  as  we  are  of  an  easy  dis- 
position, and  by  no  means  disposed  to  make  a  fuss  about  trifles, 
at  least  while  sojourning  upon  the  frontiers  of  Kansas — we  con- 
:luded  not  to  allude  to  the  fact,  but  keep  carefully  out  of  range, 
est  our  friend,  if  ridden  by  the  nightmare,  should  be  inclined  to 
'aucy  himself  a  horse,  in  which  latter  case,  our  chances  of  being 


336 


A  BLESSED  APPARITION. 


kicked  to  death  before  morning,  seemed  even  more  than  moderately 
good.  And  being  thus  uncomfortably  in  bed,  we  turned  our  atten- 
tion toward  making  an  effort  to  sleep — in  short,  we  endeavored 
to  compose  ourself,  but  it  was  not  to  be  done;  no,  "  not  at  any 
price."    The  snow-storm  inside  bothered  us — turn  as  we  please 
— twist  as  we  would — it  was  still  the  same.    If  we  laid  upon 
our  back,  the  freezing  particles  watched  their  opportunity,  and 
whenever  we  closed  our  eyes,  descended  in  a  trice,  to  build  little 
suspension  bridges  across  the  lashes,  or  settle  themselves  to  thaw 
upon  the  tip  of  our  weather-beaten  nose.    Nor  was  our  position 
improved  by  a  change  to  either  side,  for  our  ears  would  be  im- 
mediately attacked — while,  if  we.  gave  up  and  retreated — as  we 
finally  did — by  fairly  turning  our  back  to  the  enemy — they  took, 
us  in  the  rear,  and  dropped  flakes  into  our  hair,  where  they  goti 
up  sliding  parties,  from  the  top  of  our  organ  of  veneration — gi 
mighty  small  one  by  the  way — down  to  the  nape  of  our  neck 
which  gave  them  a  clear  run  of  at  least  eight  inches — we  have; 
just  been  measured  so  as  to  be  sure  of  the  distance — and,  at  th« 
same  time,  furnished  us  with  the  innocent,  but  withal  soraewha 
nervous  amusement,  of  keeping  tally  as  they  went.    At  lengtl 
we  could  stand  it  no  longer,  and  were  about  giving  up  ou 
slumber  in  despair,  when  a  blessed  apparition  caught  our  wear 
eye,  which,  though  it  came  in  a  somewhat  questionable  sbape- 
don't  be  frightened — was  neither  sheeted  ghost,  nor  goblin  grin 
for  though  undoubtedly  but  "  a  thing  of  bone,"  'twas  nothing  mor 
than  an  old  blue  cotton  umbrella — a  sort  of  family  umbrellf 
built  to  shelter  three  of  the  real  old-fashioned  practical  con 
mon  sense  kind.    But,  what  had  we  to  do  with  the  umbrella- 
be  it-big  or  little  ?    Ah  1  that's  just  it — for  we  assure  you  tht 
we  regarded  that  umbrella,  to  quote  from  our  fat  hostess  of  tl 
Cincinnati,  as  "  a  clean  dispersion  of  Providence."    But  how 
Well,  listen  and  we  will  tell  you.    To  return — we  gazed  sleepi 
at  the  apparition — suddenly  a  thought  struck  us — we  sprai 


a  6SJWY  M(,Uf  IN  A  SKTTLKU'sj  CABIN. 

"  »l'e  sprang  out  of  b»;d — we  seized  upon  this  commodious,  albeit  somewhat  dilapi- 
dated shelter— we  regained  our  place  among  the  blankets — we  opened  our  prize,  and 
spread  it<<  blue  cotion  canopy,  with  the  Mies  judiciously  arranged,  above  our  head, 
and  then  fell  asleep. "—Page  3Sd. 


OUR  BLUE  UMBRELLA  TENT. 


337 


out  of  bed — we  seized  upon  this  commodious,  albeit  somewhat 
dilapidated  shelter — we  regained  our  p'ace  among  the  blankets — 
we  opened  our  prize,  and  spread  its  blue  cottou  canopy,  with  the 
holes  most  judiciously  arranged,  above  our  head,  and  then  fell 
asleep,  like  a  virtuous  Correspondent  as  we  were,  to  dream — 

u  Of  covered  pits,  unfathomably  deep, 
A  dire  descent!  beyond  the  power  of  frost; 
Of  faithless  logs ;  of  precipices  huge, 
Smoothed  up  with  snow." 

ito  which  we  were  constantly  tumbling,  with  an  umbrella  a  mil© 
or  two  in  diameter,  by  way  of  a  saving  parachute. 

January  *ltk. — Up  very  early  per  force,  with  a  snow-bank 
npon  our  legs,  and  our  beard  frozen  fast  to  the  Mackinaw  blanket, 
hieh  had  formed  an  upper  coverlet  to  the  pile  of  robes,  over- 
eats, etc.,  that  we  had  heaped  upon  the  bed.     Our  patent 
tent,  by  the  way,  had  given  out  during  the  night,  owing  to  an 
('accumulation  of  snow,  and  the  general  airiness  of  its  texture. 

dress — breakfast — write,  and  finally  dine,  at  the  very  pri- 
Jmitive  hour  of  noon,  at  Barber's.    We  linger  a  while  to  chat 
[  with  our  good-natured  hostess,  and  then  say  good  bye.    We  don 
our  Buffalo  overshoes,  and  foot  it  through  the  drifts  of  last  night's 
i  storm — which  has  now  passed  away,  leaving  the  winter  sky 
i  "cold  but  clear" — to  Judge  Portly's — we  approach  the  Squire's 
improvement — we  contemplate  entering — we  see  Dame  Portly 
°    only  window  which  hasn't  got  an  old  hat  in  it,  and  our 
•e  fails  us — the  fire  would  be  pleasant — a  little  something 
equally  so — but  then  there's  the  "  other  half  of  that  story.'* 
e  ponder  —second  thoughts  are  best — our  first  intention  has  a 
r     id  or  two  with  the  second — result,  the  first  thought  is 
knocked,  as  a  Yankee  might  say,  "into  everlasting  fits,"  alias 
a  cocked  bit.    It  is  but  eight  miles  to  Lawrence — we  step 
out — two  hours  elapse — the  sun  is  going  down — we  are  once 
more  within  "  the  lines" — militarily  speaking — which  have  in  this 


338 


GRACIAS  A  DIOS. 


instance  "  fallen  in  unpleasant  places'' — of  the  Sebastopol  of  the 
West.  We  were  quite  out  of  breath,  but,  gracias  d  Dios,  back 
again — and  for  the  other  matters  which  should  be  chronicled 
upon  our  log-book  for  to-day,  are  they  not  written  in  the  follow- 
ing chapter  ? 


GENERAL  JAMES  H.  LANE. 


339 


CHAPTER  XXXY. 

FREE  STATE  FACTS. 

January  the  *lth,  in  continuation. — We  have  obtained  from 
General  Lane  the  necessary  data  with  which  to  gratify  the 
curiosity  of  those,  who  may  desire  to  know  something  of  this  Free 
State  leader's  antecedents. 

James  H.  Lane  was  born  in  Boone  County,  Kentucky,  on  the 
twenty-second  of  June,  1822.  He  is  a  son  of  Amos  Lane,  a 
Western  lawyer  of  considerable  celebrity,  who  figured  in  the 
politics  of  his  day  as  Speaker  of  the  first  Legislature  of  Indiana, 
and  member  of  Congress  during  the  Presidency  of  General 
Jackson,  where  he  proved  himself  one  of  the  warmest  supporters 
of  "  Old  Hickory's"  administration. 

Young  Lane  was  educated  at  Lawrenceburg,  Indiana,  where 
he  afterwards  studied  law  in  the  office  of  his  father,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  at  an  early  age.  In  July,  1846,  he  raised  a 
company  of  volunteers  for  the  Mexican  war  at  Lawrenceburg, 
Indiana,  was  elected  captain,  and  marched  with  it  to  New 
Albany,  in  the  same  State.  Here,  he  was  elected  colonel  of  the 
Third  Indiana  Yolunteers  (not  the  Indiana  regiment  that  was  a 
little  hurried  at  Buena  Yista),  and  accompanied  it  to  the  seat  of 
war.  Upon  his  first  visit  to  Mexico,  Colonel  Lane  served  under 
General  Taylor  for  a  year,  and  commanded  (as  he  tells  us)  one- 
third  of  the  troops  engaged,  at  Buena  Yista.  In  July  of  1847, 
he  returned  to  Indiana,  but  not  to  rest  upon  his  laurels,  for  we 
find  him  actively  enga<^  d  in  recruiting  the  Fifth  Indiana  regi- 
which  he  organized  and  brought  out  to  Mexico.    Of  this 


340 


THE  BRIGADIER'S  ANTECEDENTS 


regiment  he  was  colonel,  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Butler- 
was  under  fire  with  it  in  various  skirmishes,  ami  joiued  Scott  in 
the  city  of  Mexico  ;  but  after  the  capture  of  that  place.  Upon 
the  declaration  of  peace,  Lane's  regiment  was  disbanded,  and  hi 
July  of  1848,  we  find  the  colonel  laying  aside  his  military  rank, 
but  only  to  be  crowned  with  the  civil  honors  which  were  awarded 
him  in  the  following  year  by  his  adopted  State.  He  was  nomi- 
nated in  1849  as  Lieut.  Governor  of  Indiana,  and  elected  by  ten_ 
thousand  majority.  Before  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office 
he  was  selected  as  one  of  the  electors  for  the  State  at  large,  and 
cast  the  vote  of  Indiana  for  President  Pierce  :  was  nominated 
and  elected  to  Congress,  by  a  majority  of  one  thousand,  in  a  dis- 
trict where  his  predecessor  had  gone  in  by  a  majority  of  but 
sixty  votes  ;  was  a  member  of  the  Thirty-second  Congress  ;  voted 
for  the  Kansas  and  Nebraska  bills,  under  instructions  ;  came  to 
Kansas  immediately  after  the  adjournment  of  Congress,  and  set- 
tled near  Lawrence,  in  which  vicinity,  the  General  informs  us 
he  has  invested  to  the  amount  of  seven  thousand  dollars,  for  the 
most  part  in  real  estate.    He  intends  to  remain  in  the  Territory. 

In  Kansas  politics,  General  Lane  claims  to  have  been  among 
the  first  to  bring  forward  the  necessity  of  a  State  organization, 
and  to  have  draughted  the  national  platform  at  the  Big  Spring 
Convention.  General  Lane  is  the  chairman  of  the  Executive 
Committee  for  the  provisional  government  of  Kansas,  and  was 
President  of  the  Constitutional  Convention. 

These  facts  may  be  relied  upon,  as  we  have  obtained  them 
from  General  Lane  himself.  The  General  says  nothing  of  his 
military  services  in  Kansas — but  the  intrenchments  which  encir- 
cle Lawrence,  and  which  he  himself  planned,  are  still  to  be  seen 
— a  temporary  monument  at  least  to  his  talents  as  a  military 
engineer,  and  in  addition  to  these,  a  "  well-drilled  brigade," 
assures  the  beholder  that  the  Brigadier-General  has  not  n-; 
forgotten  the  tactics  learned  in  Mexico  under  Scott  and 
Tavlor. 


LUCKY  LANE. 


341 


General  Lane  is  talked  of  as  a  candidate  for  office,  when 
Kansas  gets  to  be  a  State — a  Senator,  we  believe.  We  pre- 
sume that  his  very  distinguished  party  services  would,  in  such  an 
event,  secure  him  at  least  that  amount  of  promotion,  if  not 
more. 

In  person,  we  do  not  consider  General  Lane  good-looking  ; 
he  is  too  much  in  the  rough  and  ready  style — nor  is  he  prepos- 
sessing in  his  manners.  But  for  all  that,  unless  that  lying  jade, 
Dame  Rumor,  does  him  injustice,  he  is  a  great  ladies'  man,  and 
wonderfully  successful  with  the  "  soft  sex,"  as  Mr.  Weller, 
senior,  calls  them. 

In  his  speeches  and  general  political  course,  Lane  is  the  very 
antipodes  of  Robinson,  for  where  Robinson  would  throw  on  cold 
water,  Lane  would  apply  the  fire-brand.  He  is  fluent  enough, 
but  over  strong  in  his  expressions,  and  too  incendiary  in  his 
suggestions  to  please  a  conservative  man. 

But  of  these  matters  judge  for  yourselves,  good  people,  for 
Lane  goes  East  to  lecture  upon  Kansas  and  "  the  War."  past 
present,  and  to  come. 

And  now  for  a  medley  of  Free  State  information,  all  jumbled 
together,  as  they  have  been  noted  down  (first  come,  first  served), 
in  that  repository  of  facts — our  much-blotted  note-book. 

So  let  us  "  write  up  "  Kansas  scrip  to  begin  with. 

Kansas  scrip,  is  a  peculiar  currency  whose  market  value  is 
about  as  difficult  to  quote  as  a  Brazilian  "  millrea,"  which  is,  as 
every  sailor  who  has  put  into  Rio  Harbor  well  knows,  a  fluc- 
tuating representative  of  an  uncertain  number  of  "  dumps,"  and 
"  dams,"  the  latter  being  copper  coins,  of  huge  dimensions  and 
exceedingly  unclean  exteriors.  This  scrip  was  the  child  of  many 
discussions,  but  was  finally  brought  forth  by  the  Territorial  Ex- 
ecutive Committee;  when  that  august  body  authorized  its  issue  to 
the  amount  of  twenty-five  thousand  dollars.  This  paper  may  in 
some  respects  be  considered  valuable,  insomuch  as  it  pays  the 
expenses  of  those  who  suck  government  pap,  if  there  be  any 


342 


KANSAS  SCRIP. 


such  in  Kansas,  or  in  other  words,  makes  the  political  Free 
State  Kansas  mare  go.  It  is  not,  however,  to  be  confounded  with 
the  "  war  scrip,"  which  is,  as  we  learn,  issued  by  the  Territorial 
Executive  Committee  on  their  own  responsibility.  The  lasrfc 
named  scrip  furnishes  the  sinews  of  war,  digs  entrenchments, 
buys  rifles,  and  for  aught  we  know  to  the  contrary,  fires  them 
off  to  boot.  The  Free  State  that  is  to  be,  is  supposed  to  foot 
the  bill.  The  Free  State  Treasury  has,  however,  another  string 
to  its  bow,  in  the  shape  of  an  expectation  to  get  these  docu- 
ments cashed  by  Uncle  Sam,  through  the  influence  of  Governor 
Shannon.  But  we  have  good  reason  to  suppose,  that  so  far  as 
such  a  recommendation  would  avail  them,  His  Excellency  the 
Governor  would  see  the  Free  State  party,  scrip  and  all,  in  that 
extremity  first,  and  then  wouldn't  endorse  it. 

As  a  "  true  copy  "of  this  precious  paper  maybe  interest- 
ing to  our  Wall  street  and  other  financial  operators,  we  will 
append  the  following  sample,  of  Simon  Pure  Kansas  scrip. 

KANSAS  SCRIP. 


Wood  cut:  woman  holding 
scales,  supposed  to  be  blind 
to  her  own  interests. 

No.  62.    Topeka.  Nov.  26, 

This  is  to  certify  that  Cyrus  K.  I 
bearer,  is  entitled,  on  presentation,  to 
the  Treasurer  of  the 

STATE  OF  KANSAS 

Twenty  Dollars,  with  interest  at  ten  ] 
annum,  for  account  as  per  bill  on  file, 
ment  of  which  the  faith  of  the  State  is  i 
Attest — J.  K.  Goodwin,  Sec'y. 

J.  H.  Lane,  Ch'n  Ex.  C 

[The  Kansas  Freeman  Print,  Topeka, 


1855.    $20.  £ 

[OLLIDAY,   Or     "g  ^ 

receive  from    A  o 
bo  u 

3  <V 

5  a 

u 

■+^> 

per  cent  per  &  j 
for  the  pay-  'H 
jledged.  a 

"3  « 
o  ^ 

om.,  Kansas,  g  ^ 
Kansas.]  £ 


THE  FREE  STATE  PROPAGANDISTS. 


343 


We  cannot  say  that  we  should  care  to  invest  very  largely  in 
either  "  wild  cat  baDks"  or  Kansas  scrip. 

Apropos  to  official  Free  State  Kansas  documents,  the  fol- 
lowing "circular"  will  come  in  very  properly  here.  We  have 
been  requested  to  circulate  it,  and  take  this  method,  as  the 
best  calculated  to  comply  with  the  desire  of  these  propagandists. 
It  certainly  proves  that  the  good  citizens  of  Lawrence  are  fully 
alive  to  the  necessity  of  "  tickling  the  ears  of  the  dear  people." 

Office  Executive  Committee, 

Kansas  Territory,  Jan.  4, 1856. 

Sir  :  A  deputation,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Lane,  Emery,  Hunt,  Goodin, 
Dickey,  Holliday  and  Sampson,  have  been  this  day  appointed  to  visit  the 
United  States,  to  plead  before  the  people  the  cause  of  Kansas,  and  to  con- 
vey and  lay  before  Congress  the  constitution  of  the  State,  recently  adopted 
by  our  fellow-citizens.  We  respectfully  bespeak  from  the  friends  of  free- 
dom such  attention  for  them  as  the  importance  of  their  mission  demands. 

They  are  instructed  to  visit  and  address,  early  in  February,  the 
people  at  Burlington,  Iowa  city,  and  Dubuque,  Iowa  ;  Springfield  and 
Chicago,  Illinois  ;  Lafayette,  Indianapolis  and  Richmond,  Indiana ;  Dayton, 
Cincinnati,  Columbus  and  Cleveland,  Ohio ;  Detroit,  Michigan ;  Milwaukie 
and  Madison,  Wisconsin ;  Buffalo,  Rochester,  New  York  city  and  Albany, 
New  York ;  Worcester,  Lowell,  Springfield,  Salem  and  Boston,  Massachu- 
setts ;  Hartford  and  New  Haven,  Connecticut ;  Providence,  Rhode  Island ; 
Portland,  Augusta  and  Bangor,  Maine  ;  Concord,  New  Hampshire  ;  Bur- 
lington, Vermont;  Philadelphia,  Harrisburgh  and  Pittsburg,  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

Done  at  the  office  of  the  Executive  Committee,  Kansas  Territory,  the 
day  and  year  above  written. 
J.  K.  Goodin,  Secretary.  J.  H.  LANE,  Chairman. 

And  here  follow  two  documents  which,  though  less  pacific 
in  their  nature,  are  still  historical  facts,  which  even  in  the  absence 
of  any  other  testimony,  would  most  conclusively  prove  that  the 
Free  State  people  of  Kansas  did  have  an  army.  We  presume 
that  the  originals  of  these  War  Office  forms  will  be  treasured 
in  the  securest  receptacle  of  many  a  Kansas  Yolunteer,  who 


344 


A  KANSAS  VOLUNTEER'S  COMMISSION. 


will  at  some  future  day,  in  the  pride  of  his  heart,  cause  them  to 
be  framed  and  glazed,  and  hung  upon  his  cabin  wall,  as  an 
abiding  remembrance,  for  his  little  ones  at  home,  of  that  tre- 
mendous struggle — the  famous  Wakarusa  war,  which  is — as  yet 
■ — like  the  Q.  E.  D.  of  the  Irishman's  proposition,  "which  wa3 
to  be  demonstrated." 

The  first  is  a  copy  of  a  Captain's  Commission  in  the  Free  State 
Artillery  : 

[Patriotic  woodcut — An  Eagle  looking  very  fierce.] 
JAMES  H.  LANE, 
General  Commanding  the  First  Brigade  of  Kansas  Volunteers. 

TO  ALL  WHO  SHALL  SEE  THESE  PRESENTS  GREETING  : 

Wliereas,  it  has  been  certified  to  me  by  the  proper  authorities,  that 
Thomas  B.  has  been  duly  elected  to  the  office  of  Captain  of  the  Kansas 
Artillery,  of  Kansas  Volunteers,  raised  in  the  said  Territory,  by  authority 
of  the  people  of  Kansas,  to  defend  the  city  of  Lawrence  from  threatened 
destruction  by  foreign  invaders, 

Therefore,  know  ye,  that  in  the  name  and  by  the  authority  of  the  said 
Territory,  I  do  commission  the  said  Thomas  B.,  as  aforesaid,  in  the 
said  company,  to  serve  from  the  date  hereof  until  the  said  force  retires 
from  said  Territory. 

In  testimony  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  at  Lawrence  City, 
the  twenty-seventh  day  of  November,  a.  d.  1855. 

J.  H.  Lane, 

General  Commanding  First  Brigade  Kansas  Volunteers, 
M.  G.  Roberts,  Aid,  1st  Regiment  Kansas  Volunteers. 

[Herald  of  Freedom,  Print.] 

And  here  follows  the  form  of  a  private  soldier's  discharge, 
which  will,  in  the  good  time  coming,  be  valuable,  if  only  for  its 
autographs  : 

Wood  cut —  ^  Headquarters  Kansas  Volunteers,  ) 

a  cannon.    )  Lawrence  City,  Dec.  12th,  1855.  f 

This  is  to  certify  that  Richard  Roe  faithfully  and  gallantly  served  as 
private  in  the  Lawrence  Cadet  Company  (E)  Kansas  Volunteers,  from  the 


A  KANSAS  VOLUNTEER'S  DISCHARGE. 


345 


27th  day  of  November,  1855,  to  the  12th  day  of  December,  1855,  in  defend- 
ing the  City  of  Lawrence,  in  Kansas  Territory,  from  demolition  by  foreign 
invaders,  .when  he  was  honorably  discharged  from  said  service. 

Solomon  Wildes,  Capt. 
Morris  Hunt,  Col.  Commanding  3c?  Regiment  Kansas  Volunteers. 
J.  H.  Lane,  Gen.  1st  Brigade  Kansas  Volunteers. 
C.  Robinson,  Major- General. 

For  the  present  prospects  of  the  Free  State  party,  at  least 
in  the  City  of  Lawrence,  we  cannot  augur  favorably.  They 
appear  to  be  disorganized,  quarrelling  among  themselves,  talk- 
ing about  "  loaves  and  fishes,"  as  the  heading  of  the  annexed 
circular  abundantly  proves,  and  conducting  themselves  generally 
in  such  a  suicidal  way,  as  to  excite  a  doubt  in  the  mind  of  an 
impartial  looker-on,  as  to  the  disinterestedness  of  some,  and  the 
zeal  of  others. 

"  A  house  divided  against  itself  shall  not  stand,"  saith 
the  Scriptures,  and  so,  we  fancy,  it  may  prove  with  the  Free 
State  party  in  Kansas.  For  they  even  now  agree  in  disagree- 
ing, in  evidence  of  which,  we  may  remark  that  the  regular 
"  Free  State  ticket,"  has  already  been  followed  by  another, 
styled  the  "  Free  State  Anti- Abolition  ticket,"  the  words  "  Anti- 
Abolition  "  being  its  strong  point,  for  it  is  intended  to  insinuate 
the  idea,  that  if  their  principles  be  opposed  to  Abolitionism,  those 
of  the  regular  ticket  men  must  a  fortiori,  be  in  favor  of  its 
ultra  views.  And,  as  many  of  the  Free  State  men  have  seemed 
anxious  to  define  their  position,  and  at  the  same  time  purge 
themselves  from  the  charge  of  Abolition  proclivities,  which  the 
Missourians  and  Pro-Slavery  men  of  Kansas  have  been  heaping 
upon  their  heads,  it  is  not  improbable  that  this  latter  ticket  may 
be  elected,  even  if  Anti- Abolition  Free  State-ism  should  be  com- 
pelled, for  policy's  sake,  to  make  a  marriage  de  convenance,  with 
"  moderate  Pro-Slavery."  Such  a  course,  indeed,  was  actually 
hinted  at  in  a  conversation  which  we  held,  during  our  stay  in 

15* 


346 


OH  !    DEARY  ME. 


Lawrence,  with  one  of  the  candidates  and  prime  movers  of  the 
new  ticket.  Certain  it  is,  that  they  are  raising  heaven  and  earth, 
after  their  own  fashion,  to  secure  success;  which  means;  driving 
about  the  country,  talking,  making  speeches,  distributing  hand- 
bills, and  abusing  their  opponents  generally.  There  is  one  omen, 
however,  against  the  "Anti-Abolition  "  ticket;  it  is  said  to  have 
been  concocted  on  a  Sunday,  in  regard  to  which,  one  of  our 
landladies  of  the  Cincinnati — the  fat  and  antiquated  one — 
speaks  as  follows  : 

"Oh  !  deary  me,  well  I  never,  ef  them  sacradotal  men  hain't 
a  gone  and  bin  inductin'  of  a  party  on  the  Sabber  day;  a  flyin', 
as  yeou  might  say,  right  smack  in  the  face  of  the  Commandments. 
Well,  you  needn't  laugh,  Mister,  there  won't  no  good  come  on 
it,  I  kin  tell  yeou.  If  yeou  jest  knowed,  but  ef  course  yeou 
don't,  for  it  was  afore  yeou  was  a  baby,  I  guess,  but  when  I 
was  being  courted,  and  Seth  Smalltree  was  a  cumin'  arter  me,  I 
know  he  and  Bill  Haddock  inducted  a  party  to  go  a  slayin'  with 
us  gals,  on  a  Sabber  day  evenin',  and  the  slay  got  upsot,  and, 
to  be  sure,  nobody  was  hurt,  but  parson  Johnson  said  it  was 
a  clear  dispersion  of  Providence,  that  nobody  wan't  killed,  and 
put  it  inter  his  sermon;  he  had  a  powerful  gift  in  sermonizing, 
had  parson  Johnson  next  Sunday.  So  yeou  see,  Mister,  ef  what 
I  say  won't  come  true,  for  them  misgiven  men  won't  git  no 
office  at  all,  and  all  on  account  of  breaking  the  Lord's  day,  as 
a 'body  might  say,  right  inter  pieces.  Well,  deary  me,  what's 
the  world  a  comin'  to  next,  I  wonder." 

Here  the  old  lady  got  her  knitting  under  way  again,  and 
as  we  saw  her  rocking-chair  resume  its  pendulum-like  vibra- 
tions, we  turned  quietly  round  to  continue  our  interrupted  jour- 
nalizing. 

But  here  arc  the  tickets — so  pick  and  choose  for  yourselves, 
Kansas  Free  St  it  ■  r^ntlemen  voters: 


THE  RIVAL  TICKETS. 


347 


Free  State  Abolition 

Free  State  Regular 

Office. 

Ticket. 

Ticket. 

Governor  

. .  W.  Y.  Roberts. 

Charles  Robinson. 

Lieut.  Governor.  . 

.  .  M.  J.  Parrott. 

W.  Y.  Roberts. 

Secretary  of  State 

. .  C.  K.  Holliday. 

P.  C.  Schuyler. 

Auditor  

..W.  R.  Griffith. 

J.  A  Cutler. 

Treasurer   

.  .E.  C.  K.  Garvey. 

J.  A.  Wakefield. 

Attorney  General  , 

, .  H.  Miles  Moore. 

H.  Miles  Moore. 

Judges  Sup.  Court 

.  Geo.  W.  Smith. 

S.  Latte. 

« 

S.  W.  Johnson. 

W.  Conway. 

U             M  It 

J.  A.  Wakefield. 

Morris  Hunt. 

Rep.  Sup.  Court  . 

.  .S.  B.  McKenzie. 

 Thurston. 

Clerk  Sup.  Court  .  . 

.S.  B.  Floyd. 

S.  B.  Floyd. 

State  Printer 

.R.  G.  Elliott. 

John  Speer. 

Rep.  to  Congress . . 

.M.  W.  Delahay. 

M.  W.  Delahay. 

We  have  introduced  the  "circular"  anuexed  as  bearing  upon 
these  rival  tickets  and  their  backers.  The  James  Redpath, 
ffho  signs  the  letter,  in  relation  to  Judge  Wakefield,  is  the 
present  correspondent  of  the  St.  Louis  Democrat,  and  for 
other  papers.  We  have  heard  him  bitterly  condemned  by  the 
Pro-Slavery  party,  for  alleged  misrepresentations  of  Kansas 
difficulties,  but  as  an  offset  to  this,  Mr.  Redpath  is  spoken  of  in 
the  highest  terms  by  the  leading  men  of  his  own  party,  who  cer- 
tainly should  know  him  best.  E.  C.  K.  Garvey,  is  probably  the 
most  active  worker  among  the  bolters,  who  are  interested  in  the 
election  of  the  Anti- Abolition  ticket.    The  circular  reads  thus  : 

"the  loaves  and  fishes  ticket. 

"The  correspondence  given  below  indicates  that  William  Y. 
Roberts,  Esq.,  does  not  sympathize  very  fully  in  the  movement 
of  certain  disaffected  politicians  to  get  up  a  new  ticket  for  the 
forthcoming  election. 

"  We  learn  that  Judge  Wakefield  has  been  nominated  as  a  can- 
didate for  the  supreme  bench  by  the  same  faction,  with  Judge 


348 


LOAVES  AND  FISHES. 


Johnston,  and  Gr.  W.  Smith,  Esq.  E.  C.  K.  Garvey  is  the  nom- 
inee for  Treasurer,  and  Elliot,  of  the  Free  State,  for  State  prin- 
ter; in  short,  we  believe,  nearly  the  whole  horde  of  disappointed 
political  aspirants  have  been  looked  after  on  this  ticket,  and  yet, 
with  two  or  three  exceptions,  every  nominee  expresses  no  sym- 
pathy for  the  movement. 

Lawrence,  K.  T.,  Deo.  26<A,  1855. 

Dear  Sir  : 

The  undersigned,  delegates  to  the  late  Free  State  Nominating  Con- 
vention, hearing  that  certain  disaffected  parties  have,  in  private  caucus, 
changed  the  nominations  made  by  that  Convention,  so  far  as  to  substitute 
the  name  of  Charles  Robinson  for  your  own  for  Lieutenant  Governor,  and 
your  name  for  his  as  Governor — and  are  now  engaged  in  circulating  this 
action  as  the  action  of  the  legitimate  Convention,  desire  to  know  if  you 
are  aware  of  these  facts,  and  if  so,  whether  you  approve  of,  or  will  counte- 
nance such  a  course. 

Very  respectfully  yours, 

W.  M.  McClure,  1th  Sen.  Dis. 
E.  R.  Zimmerman,  11th.  "  " 
G.  P.  Lowry,         1st.  "  " 

Hon.  W.  Y.  Roberts. 

Lawrence,  K.  T.,  Dec.  26*ft,  1855. 

Gentlemen  : 

Your  note  of  this  date  is  to  hand,  and  in  reply  I  have  to  say,  that  I 
have  heard  the  report  to  which  you  refer,  and  that  I  have  no  connection 
or  sympathy  therewith ;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  have  opposed  the  move- 
ment from  beginning  to  end,  as  disorganizing  and  opposed  to  the  interests 
of  the  Free  State  party  of  Kansas,  and  shall  continue  to  discountenance 
the  movement  should  it  be  persisted  in. 

Very  truly  your  obedient  servant, 

W.  Y.  Roberts. 

Messrs.  McClure,  Lowry,  and  Zimmerman. 

"  Since  the  above  was  in  type  we  have  received  the  following 
note  from  Mr.  Redpath: 


SO  ENDETH  THE  CIRCULAPw. 


849 


Lawrence,  Dec.  29th,  1855. 

Sir: 

I  am  authorized  by  Mr.  J.  A.  Wakefield  to  state  that  he  will  not 
accept  any  nomination  on  the  opposition  ticket.  Mr.  Parrot  requested  me 
to  say  in  his  name  that  he  would  not  accept  any  State  office  under  any  cir- 
cumstances ;  and  Judge  Johnson,  also,  gave  the  Leavenworth  delegation 
similar  and  equally  positive  instructions. 

James  Redpath. 

Editor  of  the  Herald  op  Freedom. 

"  We  are  glad  to  learn  that  Col.  Lane,  also,  opposes  the  loaves 
and  fishes  ticket.  He  justly  says  that  he  would  not  consider 
himself  worthy  the  confidence  of  the  party  if  he  failed  to  sup- 
port the  regular  nomination  ;  and  adds,  further,  that  the  regular 
ticket  is  not,  as  the  disappointed  office-seekers  allege,  an  '  Abo- 
lition affair/  n 


350 


LAWRENCE  AND  ITS  DEFENCES. 


CHAPTER  XXXYI. 

THE  SEBASTOPOL  OF  THE  WEST. 

We  have  headed  this  chapter  "  the  Sebastopol  of  the  West," 
meaning  thereby — if  so  obvious  a  title  need  an  explanation — the 
town  of  Lawrence  and  its  defences,  or  as  the  Yankees  in  these 
parts  would  term  it  in  their  vernacular,  "  Lawrence  and  its 
forts."  And  Lawrence  is  a  great  place — or  what  will  come  to  the 
same  thing  in  the  end — is  going  to  be  ;  indeed,  it  already  boasts 
a  main  street — a  real  one,  we  mean — for  streets  and  (for  aught 
we  know  to  the  contrary),  parks,  public  edifices  and  squares 
beside,  are  as  "plentiful  as  blackberries"  upon  those  paper 
maps  which  speculators  in  city  lots  so  much  delight  in  ;#and 
Lawrence,  to  do  her  justice,  is  quite  as  grand  upon  paper,  as  any 
ideal  metropolis  that  was  ever  laid  out  in  a  Far-Western 
swamp,  during  the  land  fever  of  what  the  song  calls  some 

"  Twenty  years  ago." 

But  as  our  business,  as  a  faithful  historian,  is  with  that  which 
is,  rather  than  that  which  Old  Father  Time  may  see  fit  to  make 
or  mar  in  his  ceaseless  flight,  we  shall  confine  ourself  to  things 
as  they  exist,  and  leave  those  matters,  which  "  might,  could, 
would,  or  should  be  " — as  Murray  has  it — to  the  coming  years — 
and  perchance  to  that  coming  man,  who  shall  seek  to  build 


WHAT  IS  AND  IS  TO  BE. 


351 


upon  our  foundation,  by  writing  up  some  future  "  Iliad  "  of  the 
Wakarusa  War.    And  now  to  our  description. 

The  real  main  street,  of  which  we  have  spoken,  has  been 
christened  bj  the  good  citizens  of  Lawrence  after  the  foster- 
iDg-mother  of  this  abiding-place  in  the  wilderness,  insomuch  as 
they  have  called  it  after  the  Old  Bay  State,  by  giving  it  the 
name  of  Massachusetts  street.  This  thoroughfare  has  a  circular 
earth-work  at  each  extremity,  and  houses,  good,  bad,  and  indif- 
ferent— from  the  substantial  three-story  stone  building,  down  to 
the  settler's  temporary,  mud-daubed,  one-room  log-cabin — upon 
either  side  of  it.  It  is,  moreover — as  newly-planned  streets  usu- 
ally are,  and  always  ought  to  be — of  very  liberal  dimensions,  as 
regards  the  allowance  which  has  been  made  for  present  road-way, 
and  a  prospective  side-walk.  Upon  this  street  stands,  the  Cin- 
cinnati House — already  alluded  to — the  Executive  Office — of 
which  we  have  also  spoken — with  sundry  "  stores,"  dwelling- 
houses,  &c.  (the  "  stores,"  by  the  way,  would  be  creditable  to 
the  enterprise  of  any  rising  town) ;  and  last,  but  by  no  means 
least : 

The  Eldridge  House  late  Eree  State  Hotel — which  merits  a 
separate  paragraph  ;  for  Lawrence  will  soon  be  entitled  to  boast 
that  she  has  within  her  entrenchments  the  finest  hotel  in  Kansas 
Territory,  or  for  that  matter,  upon  her  side  of  St.  Louis.  This 
edifice  has  been  in  course  of  erection  for  some  six  months  past, 
and  will  probably  be  opened  for  the  reception  of  guests  by  the 
first  of  March  (1856).  It  is  a  three-story  stone  building,  seventy 
feet  long  by  fifty  wide,  with  an  addition  or  wing  of  twenty-four 
by  forty-five  feet.  When  finished,  it  will  contain  in  air,  no  less 
than  seventy-five  rooms.  The  proprietors,  Messrs.  S.  W.  and  T. 
B.  Eldridge,  have  also  contracted  for  a  barn,  eighty  by  thirty 
feet,  which  will  afford  ample  stabling.  The  interior  finish  and 
furnishing  will  be  equal — at  least  so  says  the  proprietor — to 
that  of  any  hotel  out  of  New  York  city.    We  hear  of  private 


352 


THE  ELDRIDGE  HOUSE. 


parlor-sets,  costing  $350 — of  chairs  worth  $40  a-piece,  <fcc 
This  establishment — as  we  have  already  hinted — has  been 
re-named  the  Eldridge  House,  but  it  has  almost  (from  its  inti- 
mate connection  with  the  times  that  tried  men's  souls,  during 
the  Kansas  War),  become  "classic  ground" — so  we  presume 
that  its  old  appellation  of  the  "  Free  State  "  or  "  Emigrant  Aid 
Society's  Hotel  "  will  cling  to  it  still — or,  if  it  be  preferred,  it 
might  be  called  the  Hotel  of  the  Port-Holes,  from  those  much 
talked-of  embrasures,  which  so  few  have  seen,  and  so  many  talked 
about,  that  are  said  to  exist  in  its  parapets. 

Apropos  to  the  Eldridge  House.  A  letter  was  received  here 
a  few  days  ago — directed,  as  we  were  told,  to  General  Robinson 
— its  writer  is  a  Mr.  Williams  (a  moneyed  man,  of  Boston,  and  a 
partner,  we  believe,  in  a  wealthy  firm  in  that  hard-to-find-your- 
way-about  city),  who,  in  the  kindness  of  his  heart,  "  wants  to  do 
something  for  Lawrence,''  and  therefore  inquires  the  exact  size 
of  the  new  Hotel's  best  parlor,  which  he  evidently  intends  fur- 
nishing at  his  own  expense— all  free  gratis — for  nothing.  Well, 
it  is  a  much  better  way — to  our  fancy — of  investing  "  given 
money  "  in  Kansas,  than  by  putting  it  into  Sharpe's  rifles  and 
revolvers,  even  with  a  possible  quid  pro  quo  in  the  shape  of  Kan- 
sas scrip. 

And  now,  having  favored  the  reader  with  an  apropos  to  the 
Eldridge  House,  we  will  have  an  apropos  to  Eldridge,  to  please 
ourself.  This  gentleman — or  the  one  which  we  had  the  pleasure 
of  being  acquainted  with — has  been  engaged  in  "  the  hotel  busi- 
ness" in  Kansas  City  (Mo.)  ;  where,  if  report  speaks  true,  there 
is  quite  as  much  liquor  drank,  and  quite  as.  much  card-playing 
done,  as  at  any  other  frontier  town — "  Natchez  under  the  Hill," 
as  it  used  to  be — or  Little  Rock  in  Arkansas,  not  excepted. 
[Remember,  we  speak  from  Free  State  reports,  now.]  But  to 
our  story.  Eldridge  was  keeping  hotel,  and  somebody  "  kick  d 
up  a  row"  in  Eldridge's  house,  which  was  knocking  things  gene- 


SHOOT,  BUT  TAKE  GOOD  AIM. 


353 


rally  into  what  Paddy  calls  "  a  holy  show  of  smithereens,"  when 
Eldridge — seeing  that  the  fun  was  likely  to  be  expensive — inter- 
fered, and — as  is  not  unusual  in  such  cases — had  the  combatants 
unite  and  turn  upon  him  for  his  pains — one  of  whom  drew  his 
pistol,  and  pointed  it  at  Eldridge's  breast,  at  the  same  time 
intimating  that  he  intended  to  shoot  our  landlord — who,  as  it 
happened,  was  entirely  unarmed.  It  is  said  by  those  who  were 
eye-witnesses  to  the  affair,  that  even  under  these  "depressing 
circumstances,"  Eldridge  didn't  "  back  down  on  the  contrary, 
he  "  showed  his  courage,"  and  at  the  same  time  proved,  to  the 
entire  satisfaction  of  all  concerned,  that  a  man  may  be  born 
East  of  the  Allegany  mountains,  and  still  have  quite  as  much 
"  pluck  "  as  even  a  Far-Western  "  fire-eater,"  by  quietly  pick- 
ing up  a  chair,  which  he  brandished  above  his  head  with  this 
very  pithy  observation  : 

*'  Shoot,  you  cowardly  rascal  ;  but  if  you  do  shoot,  take  good 
aim  ;  for  if  you  don't  kill  me,  I  shall  kill  you  with  this  chair" 

And  since  we  have  touched  upon  this  subject,  we  will,  even  at 
the  risk  of  adding  yet  another,  "  aside "  to  our  already  too 
numerous  digressions  from  the  Kansas  highway,  spin  a  yarn  or 
two  which  we  have  picked  up,  we  can  scarce  say  bow,  during 
our  sojourn  in  the  Far  West,  and  we  shall  do  so  the  more  con- 
fidently, as  a  lesson  is  to  be  gained  from  their  perusal  ;  for  they 
go  to  prove  two  facts  :  Firstly,  That  even  a  "  Border  Ruffian  " 
don't  like  to  shoot  when  you  have  "  got  the  draw  upon  him  ;"  and 
Secondly,  That  there  is  a  moral  courage  which  acknowledges  no 
position  so  bad,  that  a  cool  head  and  firm  heart  cannot  find  an 
honorable  road  to  an  extrication,  or  at  least,  point  out  a  course 
which,  if  persisted  in,  will,  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten,  cow  the  bully, 
and  enable  its  possessor  to  come  off  conqueror. 

We  shall  begin,  therefore,  with  an  occurrence,  the  scene  of 
which,  we  are  pleased  to  say — for  it  gives  us  an  immensi 
amount  of  latitude  in  its  narration — is  laid  in  the  once  almost 


354 


AN  ARKANSAW  YARN. 


uncivilized  Territory  of  Arkansas  ;  and  when  we  say  Arkansas, 
we. mean  the  Arkansas  of  the  long  past,  as  it  used  to  be  in  those 
"good  old  times"  (to  quote  from  thoroughbred  frontier's  men), 
"  of  pistol  and  bowie-knife  sovereignty,"  when  every  man  carried 
his  own  life,  and  not  unfrequently  the  lives  of  a  few  of  his  neigh- 
bors, in  his  coat  back  or  breast  pocket,  and  the  "regulators" 
had  a  funny  way  of  hanging  an  unpopular  individual  first,  and 
then  trying  him  afterwards. 

It  was  therefore  during  the  existence  of  this  highly  commend- 
able state  of  things  that  a  certain  young  officer  of  the  army, 
who  had  recently  joined  his  regiment — and  whom  we  shall,  there- 
fore, for  convenience  sake,  call  Lieutenant  Newcome — arrived,  at 
the  close  of  a  very  fatiguing  day's  travel  in  the  spring — when, 
as  the  reader  may  know,  an  Arkansas  bottom  road  is  a  happy 
compound  of  "  corduroy  "  and  "hog  wallow" — at  a  log-cabin 
hotel,  or  to  call  it  by  its  more  appropriate  appellation,  "dog- 
gery," in  a  certain  little  town  which  shall  be  nameless.  Now  it 
so  happened  at  the  time  of  our  young  Lieutenant's  visit — for  the 
"  doggery"  was  "Hobson's  choice,"  there  being  no  other  place 
within  twelve  or  fifteen  miles  which  could  furnish  horse  feed  and 
shelter — that  this  tavern  of  bad  repute  was  favored  by  the  pre- 
sence of  some  half  a  dozen  Border  men,  who,  to  do  them  justice, 
could  hardly  have  been  improved  upon  in  their  very  peculiar 
way.  And  as  one  at  least  of  these  worthies  will  play  a  promi- 
nent part  in  the  characteristic  incident  which  we  are  about  to 
relate,  we  may  as  well  sketch  him  in  as  a  fair  sample  of  the  lot. 

Mr.  Jake  Chowler  was  an  accomplished,  but  withal,  somewhat 
eccentric  rascal.  He  could  cheat  his  companion  at  a  "  friendly 
game  of  poker,"  and  shoot  him  afterwards — if  he  had  the  auda- 
city to  object  to  the  procedure — with  as  little  remorse  as  he 
would  have  brought  down  a  "  painter  "  or  "  drawn  a  bead  upon  a 
bar."  In  person,  he  was  a  tall,  lank,  fever-and-ague-shaken 
specimen  of  humanity,  with  unkempt,  towy  hair,  and  a  most  pro- 


PINE  KNOT  JAKE. 


355 


digious  beard,  which  looked  as  if  it  might  have  been  permitted 
to  grow  from  the  date  of  its  first  appearance;  he  had,  moreover, 
keen  eyes,  deeply  sunken,  and  as  restless  as  an  Indiau's  ;  add 
sharply  cut  features,  high  cheek  bones,  a  low,  receding  forehead, 
and  a  sensual  mouth — and  you  will  have  the  portrait  of  one 
of  the  worst  men  who  ever  made  laws  to  suit  himself  upon  the 
Arkansas  frontier. 

As  for  his  dress,  if  you  be  curious  in  externals,  imagine  a 
coon-skin  cap  worn  nearly  upon  the  back  of  the  head,  a  loose, 
tobacco-stained  old  overcoat,  much  the  worse  for  wear,  in  whose 
side  pocket  the  butt  of  a  horse-pistol  was  distinctly  visible, 
a  pair  of  mud  soiled  pants  with  riding  leathers,  and  buffalo 
overshoes — and  you  have  completed  an  inventory  of  garment* 
which  argued  quite  as  unfavorably  for  their  wearer  as  did  the 
reckless,  dissipated  expression  of  the  man  himself.  In  fact,  to 
sum  up  Mr.  Jake  Chowler,  or  as  he  preferred  calling  himself,  Pine 
Knot  Jake,  in  the  fewest  possible  words,  he  was  the  terror 
of  the  country  round  ;  for  with  him  to  "jump  a  man  up,"  with 
reason  or  without  reason,  for  it  mattered  little  as  to  the  amount 
of  provocation  with  Jake,  was  "  good  sport,"  and  to  shoot  him 
afterwards,  the  consummation  of  a  rather  amusing  affair. 

With  so  peace-breaking  a  disposition,  it  is  hardly  to  be 
wondered  at  that  "Pine  Knot  Chowler"  should  have  made  a 
mental  note  of  our  young  officer's  quiet  entry  into  ihe  cabin 
where,  at  that  particular  moment,  Mr.  Chowler  was  enjoying 
himself,  by  indulging  in  the  innocent  relaxations  of  alternate 
whisky-drinking,  gambling,  and  dancing,  or  as  the  individual  in 
question  would  have  termed  it,  "  breakin'  down  f  for  there 
was  a  white-headed  old  darkey  present,  who  was  aiding  the 
revel  by  the  execution  of 

"That  good  old  tune  M 

which  he  rattled  off  upon  his  violin,  with  a  facility  of  execution 
which  betokened  a  practised  hand. 


356 


A  VERY  PRESSING  INVITATION. 


In  the  mean  time  our  Lieutenant,  who  was  still  suffering 
from  the  effects  of  a  recent  illness,  had  taken  an  out  of  the 
way  seat  near  the  stove,  where  he  evinced  a  strong  disposition 
to  avoid  any  intercourse  with  the  Borderers.  It  may  be,  too, 
that  the  young  man  laid  himself  open  to  the  charge  of  "  put- 
ting on  airs,"  by  neglecting,  upon  his  entrance,  to  salute  the 
company,  either  by  the  customary  "  good  evening,  gentlemen," 
or  the  yet  more  Western  polite  greeting  of  asking  "  the  crowd" 
to  "  step  up  and  liquor  "  at  "  his  expense." 

None  of  which,  as  we  have  already  intimated,  had  escaped 
the  keen  eye  of  Mr.  Jake  Chowler.  "He  didn't  like  it.  He 
allowed  that  thar  dog-gauned  city  raised  thing  in  thar  brass 
buttons,  war  a  puttin'  on  mighty  high  falutin'  ways,  an'  crowdin' 
thar  boys  a  heap." 

But  Pine  Knot  Jake  was  not  the  man  to  confine  his  indig- 
nation to  mere  words  ;  so  after  "  standin'  it"  as  he  said,  "  unti? 
a  human  couldn't  bar  it  no  longer,"  he  walked  up  to  the  stranger, 
and  the  following  dialogue  ensued  : 

Chowler. — (At  the  same  time  slapping  the  Lieutenant  fami- 
liarly upon  the  back) — Step  up,  hoss,  an'  liquor. 

Lieutenant. — I  thank  you,  sir,  but  I  don't  feel  like  drinking. 

Chowler. — Yes,  yeou  do  :  so  jest  step  up,  stranger,  an' 
kinder  move  yourself  too;  don't  yeou  see  that  thar  crowd  air  a 
waitin'  ? 

Lieutenant. — But  I  don't  wish  to  drink,  sir. 

Chowler. — I  don't  kear  ef  yeou  don't.  I  want  you  to  drink 
with  me.  My  name  air  Jake  Chowler  :  Pine  Knot  Jake  they 
call  me  whar  I  come  from,  all  on  account  of  my  bein'  so  dreadful 
easy  to  whip.    Will  you  drink  with  me  now  ? 

Lieutenant. — No,  sir. 

Chowler. — Ef  yeour  a  goiu'  to  crowd  a  man  that  thar  way,  I 
jest  tell  you,  stranger,  that  yeou  shall  drink  with  me. 
Lieutenant. — And  I  tell  you,  sir,  that  I  will  not. 
Chowler. — Wael,  stranger ,  ef  you  will  hev  it  so — here  Mr. 


THE  BULLY  SEEMS  TO  TRIUMPH. 


357 


Chowler  drew  a  horse-pistol,  which  he  cocked  and  pointed  at 
the  Lieutenant's  head — I'll  jest  let  yeou  know,  that  ef  yeou  don't 
take  a  drink  with  this  hyar  child,  and  be  right  sudden  a  doin' 
it,  I'll  raise  the  top  off  your  head  with  this  hyar  tool,  and  ef 
that  don't  settle  yeou,  I  allow  to  gather  yeou  by  your  har,  an' 
shake  yeou  till  your  dog-gauned  toe-nails  drop  off. 

Upon  receiving  this  mild  intimation,  a  close  observer  might 
have  noticed  the  sudden  change  that  passed  like  a  cloud  shadow 
over  the  young  soldier's  face  ;  for  his  eye  flashed,  the  lip  was 
compressed,  and  the  thin  nostril  dilated  ;  but  these  signs  of  in- 
dignation, if  such  they  were,  lasted  but  for  a  moment,  and  as 
the  pale  features  settled  back  into  their  wonted  repose,  there 
was  almost  a  smile,  though  some  would  have  called  it  a  meaning 
one,  upon  Lieutenant  Newcome's  face,  who,  nevertheless,  appeared 
subdued,  for  he  rose  to  his  feet,  as  if  to  comply  with  this  very 
pressing  invitation. 

"  Mr.  Chowler,"  said  our  Lieutenant,  as  they  approached  the 
filthy  pen  of  liquor-stained  boards,  which  enclosed  the,  if  possi- 
ble, still  dirtier  "bar,"  "  Mr.  Chowler,  I  know  your  character  ; 
I  am  entirely  unarmed  ;  I  have  told  you  that  I  did  not  wish  to 
drink,  and  should  not  do  so  now,  except  upon  compulsion  ;  at 
the  same  time,  I  prefer  drinking  even  with  you,  to  being  shot 
down  in  cold  blood." 

To  this,  the  bully  made  no  verbal  reply,  but  laughed  insult- 
ingly ;  ordered  "  drinks  for  two,"  laid  his  pistol  upon  the 
counter,  and,  at  the  same  time,  turned  his  head  slightly  round, 
to  exchange  telegraphic  congratulations  with  a  companion, 
upon  the  ease  with  which  he,  the  accomplished  Pine  Knot 
Chowler,  had  "  backed  down  one  of  Uncle  Sam's  highfalutin 
pets." 

But  Mr.  Chowler's  moment  of  triumph  was  destined  to  be 
short-lived — indeed,  its  end  was  already  at  hand — for  young 
Newcome,  who  had  an  eye  like  a  hawk,  had  been  watching  his 


358 


THE  TABLES  TURNED. 


unceremonious  acquaintance's  movements  keenly.  He  saw  the  pis- 
tol laid  down ;  a  thought  flashed  across  his  mind ;  to  execute  it  was 
the  work  of  an  instant.  He  edged  quietly  towards  the  bar,  and 
extended  his  right  arm,  as  if  to  take  up  the  tumbler,  in  which  the 
whisky,  brown  sugar,  etc.,  had  already  been  mingled  for  his  benefit, 
but  instead  of  doing  so,  he  leant  forward,  shoved  his  persecutor 
aside  with  one  vigorous  push  of  his  left  hand,  and,  at  the  same  time, 
grasped  the  weapon,  which,  fortunately  for  him,  was  still  cocked, 
and  then,  with  one  spring,  placed  his  back  against  the  wall,  and, 
as  they  say  out  West,  drew  a  bead  upon  Mr.  Jake  Chowler's 
left  breast,  who,  in  utter  amazement  at  this  most  unexpected 
change  in  the  position  of  affairs,  was,  at  the  moment,  regarding 
him  with  distended  eyes,  and  open  mouth,  not  to  dwell  upon 
certain  indications  of  bodily  trepidation,  which  had  suddenly  ap- 
peared upon  the  crest-fallen  bully's  now  anxious  face. 

"  Mr.  Chowler,"  said  our  Lieutenant,  whose  voice  was  even 
calmer  than  it  was  when  he  declined  the  first  invitation  to  step  up 
and  drink,  "  Mr.  Chowler,  you  had,  or  thought  you  had,  matters 
all  your  own  way,  but  a  moment  ago  ;  then,  you  were  armed,  and 
I  was  not  ;  now,  however,  the  tables  are  turned,  so,  as  I  have 
the  superiority  at  present,  you  will  very  much  oblige  me,  as 
there  is  a  fiddler  present,  by  stepping  out  upon  the  floor, 
and  favoring  this  good  company  with  a  specimen  of  your  danc- 
ing." 

Mr.  Chowler. — But  I  don't  feel  like  dancin',  stranger. 

Lieutenant. — Exactly  what  I  said  to  you,  Mr.  Chowler,  a 
short  time  ago,  when  you  requested  me  to  drink  ;  but  though 
you  do  look  as  if  you  didn't  feel  like  dancing,  I  must  really  in- 
sist upon  your  favoring  us,  the  more  so,  as  your  friends  seem  to 
be  anxious  for  you  to  begin. 

Mr.  Chowler. — But  I  don't  want  to  dance,  stranger. 

Lieutenant. — My  own  words  again,  sir  ;  but  you  must  permit 
me  to  answer  your  objection  in  the  same  manner  that  you  replied 


MR.  CHOWLER  FAVORS  THE  COMPANY. 


359 


to  mine  ;  I  don't  care  whether  you  do  or  not  ;  I  wish  you  to 
dance  for  me ;  my  name  is  Harry  Newcome,  and  when  at  my 
post,  they  call  me,  although  not  considered  easy  to  whip,  a  per- 
son who  won't  be  imposed  upon.  Now,  sir,  will  you  dance  for 
me,  or  shall  I  be  under  the  painful  necessity  of  carrying  out  this 
parallel  to  our  recent  conversation,  by  promising  to  shoot  you 
in  case  of  a  refusal  ? 

Mr.  Pine  Knot  Chowler  looked  into  the  Lieutenant's  eye, 
which  was  fixed  intently  upon  his  own,  and,  for  a  moment,  there 
was  something  in  the  almost  fiend-like  expression  of  the  baffled 
ruffian's  face,  which  bespoke  a  tiger  foiled,  but  nerving  himself 
for  some  desperate  leap  ;  a  second  glance,  however,  at  the 
steady  hand,  whose  fore-finger  rested  upon  the  trigger  of  a  wea- 
pon, which,  as  nobody  knew  better  than  Mr.  Jake  Chowler,  had 
never  yet  missed  fire,  had  its  restraining  effect  ;  so,  with  some- 
thing that  sounded  marvellously  like  a  smothered  growl,  Mr. 
Chowler  stepped  out  upon  the  floor,  and  made  a  sign  to  the  ter- 
rified darkey,  who  had,  since  the  bully's  discomfiture,  sat  staring 
with  protruding  eyes  at  the  brass-buttoned  stranger,  to  "  strike 
up  somethin'  about  right,"  and  then  began  shuffling  away,  like  a 
bear  upon  a  hot  iron  plate  ;  but  though  his  movements  were 
awkward  enough  at  first,  there  was  something  either  in  the  tune 
or  in  the  necessity  of  making  the  best  of  a  bad  matter,  which 
seemed  to  operate  soothingly  upon  the  Borderer,  for  as  the 
negro  bent  to  his  instrument,  and  rolled  out  the  according  notes, 
Mr.  Chowler's  grim  features  relaxed,  expanded,  and  finally 
widened  out  into  a  really  hearty  laugh,  as  he  finished  up  a  hoe- 
down,  with  a  sort  of  first-class,  back-action  double-shuffle,  and 
cut-the-pigeon-wing  step  in  the  most  approved  Arkansas  style. 

"Stop,  Mr.  Chowler,"  cried  the  Lieutenant. 

Mr.  Chowler  stood  firm  in  his  tracks  as  if  glued  to  the  floor, 
the  music  ceased,  and  a  dead  silence  reigned  in  the  cabin. 

"  Mr.  Chowler,"  said  the  young  officer,  "  I  came  here  to-night 


360 


THE  BORDERER  BACKS  DOWN. 


a  stranger  to  you  all ;  I  neither  interfered  with  you,  nor  did  I  do 
anything  to  provoke  the  treatment  which  I  have  received.  You 
insisted  upon  my  drinking  with  you.  I  declined,  not  from  any 
desire  to  give  offence,  or  because  I  believed  that  I  should  incur 
any  degradation  by  so  doing,  but  simply  for  the  reason  given  in 
my  reply  to  your  invitation,  that  I  did  not  feel  like  it.  A  little 
good  luck,  Mr.  Chowler,  coupled  with  some  management 
upon  my  part,  has  enabled  me  to  prevent,  as  well  as  punish  your 
attempt  to  force  me  into  doing  what  I  had  already  positively 
declined.  And  now,  sir,  I  can  only  say,  as  I  have  told  you 
before,  that  I  have  not  even  a  pen-knife,  with  which  to  defend 
myself — for  I  am  about  to  return  your  pistol — and  if  either  you 
or  your  friends  should  see  fit  to  murder  an  unarmed  man,  I  can 
do  nothing  to  deter  you." 

"  But,  Mr.  Chowler,"  added  the  Lieutenant,  as  he  laid  down 
the  weapon  and  turned  to  resume  his  seat,  "  I  shall  not  drink 
with  you  or  any  other  man  upon  compulsion." 

It  is  reported  that  Mr.  Pine  Knot  Chowler  gathered  himself 
up,  stared  first  at  the  pistol,  and  then  at  the  "  stranger,"  who 
had  now  returned  to  his  low  chair  by  the  stove,  where  he  sat,  to 
all  appearances,  as  if  utterly  unconscious  of  the  existence  of 
such  a  being  as  his  late  antagonist,  in  the  world.  Mr.  Chowler 
grasped  the  pistol,  let  down  the  hammer,  then  took  it  up  and 
played  with  the  trigger,  as  if  undecided  as  to  how  he  ought  to 
act.  In  fact.  Mr.  Chowler  was  meditating  upon  his  late  defeat; 
he,  the  "Pine  Knot"  had  been  "  backed  down,"  he  "  felt  bad," 
he  "  would  hev  given  thar  best  hoss  he  ever  rode,"  as  he  afterwards 
expressed  it,  "  to  get  even."  But  the  lesson  he  had  learned  was 
too  recent  and  too  strong  for  him.  He  accordingly  forced  a 
smile — swallowed  his  share  of  the  old  Monongahela  at  a  gulp — 
paid  for  both  drinks,  of  which  one  still  remained  untasted  upon 
the  board,  pocketed  his  pistol,  "  allowed  that  thar  stranger  fur 
an  Eastern-raised  man,  wor  a  hoss,"  and  finally  remarked,  that 


THE  GAMBLING  MAN. 


361 


"  as  it  war  a  gettin'  powerful  late,  he  reckoned  it  about  time  for 
him  to  be  a  travellin\" 

The  second  incident  which  we  promised  the  reader,  took  place 
upon  that  equally  favorable  locality  for  the  acting  out  of  such 
affairs  as  these — a  down-river  Mississippi  steamboat.  The  cir- 
cumstances are  briefly  as  follows  : 

The  table  was  laid  for  dinner  in  the  spacious  upper-cabin  of 
what  in  those  days — for  the  occurrence  which  we  are  about  to 
relate  took  place  many  years  ago — was  considered  a  first-class 
river-boat.  The  passengers  were  seated  at  their  meal,  when  a 
swaggering,  devil-may-care  fellow — who  had  spent  his  time  since 
coming  on  board  at  "  Natchez-under-the-hill,"  between  corn- 
whisky  and  cards — came  sauntering  in  from  the  "  social  hall/7 
and  took  his  place  at  the  board,  at  the  same  time  drawing  forth 
a  braee  of  hair-triggered  duelling  pistols,  which  he  cocked,  and 
laid  upon  either  side  of  his  plate,  in  such  a  manner  that  the 
muzzles  of  the  loaded  weapons  were  pointed  directly  at  the 
breast  of  a  grey-headed  merchant  from  New  Orleans,  a  very 
quiet,  unobtrusive  sort  of  person,  who  sat  opposite  the  gambler. 

"  Sir,"  said  the  old  man,  "  will  you  do  me  the  favor  to  remove 
those  pistols,  for  it  is  impossible  to  eat  my  dinner  comfortably 
when  my  life  is  endangered  by  the  very  careless  manner  in  which 
you  have  thrown  down  your  weapons." 

To  this  mild  remonstrance,  the  person  addressed  vouchsafed 
no  farther  reply  than  an  oath,  coupled  with  the  Intimation,  that 
u  if  the  old  fellow  didn't  like  it,  he  might  leave  the  cabin  ;  but 
as  for  himself  he  would  not  move  his  fire-arms,  to  please  the  best 
man  that  ever  walked." 

Upon  receiving  this  discourteous  reply  the  old  merchant  uttered 
not  a  word,  but  resumed  his  chair,  from  which  he  had  partly 
risen,  with  the  air  of  a  man  who  had  made  up  his  mind  to  endure 
an  annoyance  which  he  cannot  prevent.  In  a  few  moments,  how- 
ever, he  raised  his  head,  made  a  signal  to  the  negro-man,  a  pri- 

16 


362 


THE  SCREAMER  NO.  8. 


v  ate  servant  of  his  own  who  was  attending  upon  him,  and  gave 
some  whispered  order;  the  negro  disappeared,  entered  the  mer- 
chant's state-room  by  its  outer  door,  but  immediately  returned  to 
his  place  beside  his  master's  chair,  where  he  stooped  down,  pro- 
duced something  from  behind  his  back,  and  placed  the  articles, 
whatever  they  were,  in  the  merchant's  hands,  as  the  old  man  put 
them  quietly  back  to  grasp  what  he  had  sent  for.  A  moment 
more  and  all  present  were  electrified  by  seeing  the  old  gentle- 
man straighten  himself  up,  with  a  cocked  pistol  in  either  hand, 
which  he  levelled  full  at  the  gambler's  head,  at  the  same  instant 
calling  out, 

"  If  you  stir,  or  dare  to  move  a  finger,  sir,  you  are  a  dead 
man." 

He  then  motioned  to  .the  negro  who  stood  grinning  at  his  side. 

"Tom,"  said  he,  "go  round  and  take  up  that  person's  pistols, 
remove  the  caps,  and  lay  them  in  the  berth  in  his  state-room;  he 
won't  need  them,  at  leant,  until  after  dinner." 

"  As  for  you,  sir,"  added  he,  turning  to  the  discomfited  swag- 
gerer, as  Tom  literally  carried  out  his  master's  instructions,  "  I 
fancy  you  will  not  be  disposed  to  bully  even  an  old  man  in 
future." 

When  the  Screamer  No.  3  stopped  to  "  wood  up,"  some  two 
hours  afterwards,  the  "gambling  man"  was,  "  by  particular  re- 
quest," one  of  those  who  landed,  and  remained  upon  shore. 

And  now,  after  this  long,  but,  as  we  trust,  not  altogether 
uninteresting  digression,  let  us  return  to  the  consideration  of 
"  Lar-ence  "  and  its  "  forts,"  which  will — as  this  chapter  has 
already  outrun  its  intended  limits,  be  treated  of  in  a  military 
point  of  view  in  the  next. 


CAN  LAWRENCE  BE  TAKEN  ? 


363 


CHAPTER  XXXYII. 

LAWRENCE  IN  A  MILITARY  POINT  OF  VTEW. 

We  have  already  hazarded  the  opinion  that  the  town  of  Law- 
rence could  be  taken,  her  earth-work  trenches,  Sharpe's  rifles, 
Kansas  brigades,  and  "  circular  forts  "  to  the  contrary  notwith- 
standing, in  something  less  than  two  hours  by  the  watch,  and  we 
will  now  endeavor  to  give  our  reasons  for  this  belief. 

Imprimis — We  should  fancy  that  the  idea  of  "  a  war,"  or  even 
of  being  called  upon  to  put  their  town  in  a  position  for  defence, 
could  never  have  occurred  to  those  who  selected  the  site  of  this 
"city,"  that  is  to  be;  for,  in  a  military  point  of  view,  we  could 
hardly  fancy  a  location  which  would  be  naturally  more  open  to 
an  attack,  or  less  susceptible  of  being  successfully  defended,  at 
least,  by  any  hastily  erected  temporary  work,  than  this  political 
"  bone  of  contention,  the  Athens  of  Free  State  Kansas."  But 
let  us  give  the  reader  a  rough  idea  of  its  situation  and  surround- 
ings, and  then,  if  he  do  not  concur  with  us  in  our  opinion,  we 
shall  feel  inclined  to  pronounce  him  a  most  unmilitary  man,  and 
"agree  in  disagreeing." 

Lawrence  stands  upon  a  plain,  or  to  speak  more  correctly,  upon 
that  portion  of  the  open  prairie  which  slopes  gently  toward 
the  belt  of  timber  that  marks  the  course  of  the  Caw  River — 
a  stream,  which  flows,  if  we  remember  rightly,  within  a 
couple  of  hundred  yards,  or  less,  of  the  town  itself.  There 
is  also  a  ravine,  deep  enough  to  cover  the  approach  of 


364  THE  BLUFF  NEAR  LAWRENCE, 

troops  for  a  night  attack,  that  leads  almost,  or  quite,  into  the 
town.  But  the  unfavorable  peculiarities  of  country  just  alluded 
to,  are  by  no  means  the  most  important  of  the  natural  disadvan- 
tages which  might  militate  against  the  Free  State  soldiers  in  case 
of  an  attack;  for  a  huge  "bluff"  lifts  its  treeless  brow  above  the 
otherwise  almost  level  landscape,  and  stands  sufficiently  near  to 
command  the  town.  In  fact,  a  portion  of  its  crest  is  within  five 
hundred  yards — a  very  neat  distance  for  artillery  practice — of 
the  "  circular  forts,"  and  earth-works  that  it  overlooks.  This 
"  bluff"  is,  moreover,  extensive,  and  easier  of  access  from  the  far 
side  than  on  that  nearest  the  town,  which  is  somewhat  precipit- 
ous. Now  what,  let  us  ask,  is  there  to  prevent  an  enemy,  if 
provided  with  artillery,  from  gaining  this  elevation  with  his 
pieces  during  the  night,  and  crowning  the  heights  with  a  battery, 
which  could  be  prepared  to  open  its  fire,  ere  daylight  should 
betray  its  presence  to  the  besieged.  True  it  is  that  the  Free 
State  Volunteers  boast  that  they  have,  on  several  occasional 
proved  the  efficiency  of  their  Sharpe's  rifles,  by  discharging  them 
with  effect  from  the  ''circular  fort"  nearest  the  "bluff,"  at  a 
board  placed  upon  that  point  of  the  elevation  which  an  enemy 
would  be  most  likely  to  occupy.  But  who  does  not  know  that 
target  firing  is  one  thing,  and  real  practice,  with  a  return  of 
your  favors — and  it  may  be  with  interest — quite  a  different 
affair. 

There  is  yet  another  manner  in  which  Lawrence  might,  with 
nothing  more  than  volunteer  sentinels  upon  the  look-out,  be  suc- 
cessfully surprised,and  that  is,  by  marching  men  down,  under  cover 
of  night,  upon  the  opposite  side  of  the  Caw  River,  and  then  crossing 
them  to  the  timber  which  shades  the  Lawrence  margin  of  the 
stream,  by  boats  or  rafta  previously  prepared.  These  rafts 
might  be  launched  above,  and  dropped  down  almost  noise- 
lessly with  the  current,  from  whence,  upon  effecting  a  landing,  & 
very  short  run  would  bring  the  assailants  within  striking  distance 


MILITARY  ENGINEERING. 


365 


of  the  defenders  of  the  place,  and  thus  enable  them,  by  a  hand 
to  hand  fight,  to  gain  possession  of  the  town. 

It  was,  as  we  are  informed,  the  intention  of  the  "  Border 
Ruffians"  to  have  taken  Lawrence,  had  the  late  difficulties  actually 
ended  in  a  fight,  by  a  cavalry  charge;  in  such  a  case,  the  storming 
party  expected  to  receive  but  one  or  two  volleys  from  the  Free 
State  Sharpe's  rifles,  before  they  would  have  been  enabled  to 
rush  in,  close  man  to  man,  draw  their  pistols  and  bowie  knives, 
and  thus  gain  the  day.  It  appears  that  these  worthies  trusted 
not  a  little  to  their — as  a  general  thing — superior  personal 
strength,  activity,  and  expertuess  in  using  their  weapons.  On 
the  other  hand,  the  Free  State  Volunteers  are  equally  confi- 
dent that  they  could  have  kept  up  so  withering  a  fire  from  the 
repeating  arms  with  which  they  were  provided,  that  no  Mis- 
sourian  could  have  lived  to  get  within  pistol-shot  of  their 
entrenchments.  But  in  regard  to  these  matters,  who  shall 
decide,  where  conflicting  factions  disagree,  as  to  what  might 
Have  been  the  modus  operandi  and  ultimatum  of  a  fight  which  we 
rejoice  to  say,  did  not  take  place,  and  we  sincerely  trust,  never 
will. 

As  regards  the  details  of  the  defences  at  Lawrence,  we  should 
certainly  have  been  "better  posted"  than  we  are.  As  it  is,  we 
can  but  plead  the  intense  cold,  which  reigned  supreme  during 
our  visit  to  this  Sebastopol  of  the  Far  West,  and  interfered  so 
sadly  with  our  study  of  exposed  fortifications,  as  to  prevent  an 
intended  examination  into  the  results  of  General  Lane's  Free 
State  military  engineering.  There  is,  however,  an  addenda  in 
our  favor,  to  this  apology,  in  the  shape  of  a  desperate  endeavor 
made  one  January  afternoon,  when  we  sallied  forth,  note-book  in 
hand,  to  take  measurements  and  dimensions.  This  ended  in  our 
gaining  the  edge  of  a  slippery  ditch,  into  which,  as  we  were 
busily  engaged  in  pacing  off  the  front,  we  tumbled  most  inglori- 
ously,  thereby  proving,  to  our  own  satisfaction  at  least,  that  the 


366 


SHERIFF  JONES  A  GOOD  SAMARITAN. 


Free  State  entrenchments  were  certainly  dangerous  to  absent- 
minded  Yankees,  whatever  they  might  be  to  the  "Border 
Ruffians." 

And  now  as  our  latest  Lawrence  intelligence  dates  back  to 
January  the  9th,  we  will  crib  the  following  from  a  Free  State 
correspondent's  letter,  dated  at  that  place  on  the  25th  of  the  same 
month  ;  it  might  very  properly  be  headed,  "  sixteen  days  later 
from  the  seat  of  war."  The  writer,  by  the  way,  seems  to  be 
quite  as  fully  impressed  with  the  "cold  weather"  as  we  were 
— but  read  what  he  says. 

Lawrence,  K.  T.,  Friday,  January  25M,  1856. 
*  *  *  .  *  *  *  * 

One  man,  who  started  on  foot  to  come  here  last  Monday,  was  badly 
frozen,  and  barely  escaped  with  his  life,  by  swinging  his  hat  for  aid,  after 
becoming  unable  to  walk — and  the  Samaritan  who  first  came  to  his  assist- 
ance was  the  Pro-Slavery  Sheriff  Jones,  who  was  riding  about  one  mile 
distant  at  the  time.  He  found  him  shockingly  frozen,  and  put  him  upon 
his  own  horse,  in  which  manner  he  carried  him  about  three  miles  to  the 
house  of  an  Indian,  where  he  was  well  cared  for — but  it  is  doubtful  whe- 
ther he  will  ever  be  able  to  walk  again,  for  I  have  heard  to-day  that  his 
feet  are  so  badly  swollen  as  to  crack  open.  Indeed,  I  may  say  that  I 
never  saw  so  many  people  suffering  with  chilled  feet  and  hands  before  in 
my  life,  as  there  are  now  in  Lawrence.  Full  one  half  of  those  who  walk 
our  streets  limp  as  they  go,  and  are  obliged  to  wear  buffalo  over-shoes,  or 
something  very  loose  upon  their  feet.  I  know  of  some  women  who  are 
obliged  to  use  crutches  for  a  similar  reason.  This  is  called  the  coldest 
winter  known  here  for  twenty  years. 

******* 

Cold  weather  is  the  only  fortuitous  event  for  the  Free  State  party  I 
have  to  mention.  I  believe  it  is  that  alone  which  keeps  our  opponents 
from  pouncing  upon  us.  It  would  be  impossible  to  conduct  a  campaign 
successfully  while  the  cold  is  so  severe.  We  know  they  have  an  under- 
ground organization  which  probably  extends  through  all  the  Southern 
States,  and  that  all  who  are  connected  with  it  are  pledged  to  fight  in  any 
case,  right  or  wrong,  and  never  to  return  till  the  Free  State  party  is  ex* 
tinct.    They  drill  every  day  at  Westport  and  other  prominent  towns  along 


LATER  FROM  THE  SEAT  OF  WAR. 


361 


the  border,  but  are  totally  silent  upon  the  object  of  their  movements  when 
questioned  by  strangers.  We  learn,  to-night,  that  everything  is  extremely 
quiet  at  Kansas  and  other  places,  just  now.  It  is  a  common  subject  of 
remark  among  our  Free  State  friends  there  ;  t&ey  are  puzzled  to  account 
for  it.  Persons  who  appear  to  be  in  authority,  are  seen  riding  from  town 
to  town,  holding  conference  with  prominent  Pro-Slavery  men,  but  not  one 
word  of  their  designs  can  be  drawn  from  them.  Letters  from  our  friends, 
yesterday,  from  Leavenworth  and  Kansas,  state  that  there  is  something 
threatening  in  the  undercurrent,  and  their  advice  to  us  is  to  prepare  for 
the  worst.  We  are  fast  doing  so.  A  week  ago,  one  hundred  well-armed 
men  could  have  stormed  our  town,  but  our  condition  was  not  known  in 
"  Pukedom."  "We  had  no  powder,  shot,  or  lead,  and  but  few  provisions ; 
but  yesterday  half  a  ton  of  lead  arrived,  and  nearly  as  much  powder. 
Two  other  teams  are  on  the  way  with  the  same  "  material  aid."  Provi- 
sions are  also  coming  in,  so  that  we  shall  soon  be  in  good  condition  for 
defence.  Last  night  about  sixty  men  were  detailed  from  the  different  com- 
panies, and  a  party  set  at  work  upon  each  of  our  five  fortifications.  Cabins 
were  hastily  thrown  up  within  the  entrenchments,  stoves  prepared,  and 
they  are  now  boarding  themselves  in  soldier-like  order.  The  fort  at  the 
foot  of  Massachusetts  street  is  circular,  about  one  hundred  feet  in  diameter, 
made  of  scarth  and  timbers  thrown  up  about  seven  feet  high,  with  a  walk 
of  some  four  feet  in  width  upon  the  top.  Upon  this  circle  we  have  a  soldier 
in  full  uniform,  walking  night  and  day,  giving  our  town  something  of  a 
military  appearance.  Generals  Robinson  and  Lane  are  constantly  in  the 
Council  Chamber  with  other  subordinate  officers. 

We  are  not  so  well  prepared  for  a  campaign  now  as  we  were  in  Decem- 
ber. Then,  our  harvest  was  just  over,  the  weather  mild,  and  men  could 
leave  their  families  for  a  few  days  without  uneasiness  on  their  account. 
Now,  provisions,  money  and  wood  are  scarce,  and  many  who  came  before 
to  our  aid  could  not  be  urged  to  do  so  again  without  paying  them  in  ad- 
vance, so  that  their  families  might  not  suffer  in  their  absence.  We  have 
started  men  to-day  to  different  parts  of  the  Territory,  to  give  notice  of  our 
danger,  and  vvarn  our  friends  to  be  ready  at  an  hour's  notice.  . 

Many  are  of  the  opinion  that  we  shall  not  be  attacked  till  the  new  Legis- 
lature meets,  or  until  we  attempt  to  move  the  wheels  of  our  State  organi- 
zation on  the  4th  of  March.  This  may  be  true,  and  it  may  also  be  true, 
if  large  forces  from  the  East,  North  and  West  do  not  reach  us  before  that 
time,  that  the  Legislature  will  immediately  adjourn  after  organizing,  until 


368 


WHAT  MAY  BE. 


the  1st  of  May,  when  we  shall  be  sure  of  a  great  accession  to  our  military 

as  well  as  our  industrial  strength. 

*  *  *  *  *  *  * 

As  regards  the  opinion  expressed  in  the  foregoing  communica- 
tion, in  relation  to  the  Kansas  difficulties  reaching  their  crisis 
upon  -the  4th  of  March,  we  are  disposed  to  believe  that  ils 
writer  is  most  probably  correct,  for  though  but  little  inclined  to 
play  the  part  of  prophet  upon  any  political  stage,  or  even  to 
claim,  in  such  matters,  the  old  Scottish  gift  of  "second  sight," 
we  are  willing  to  predict,  that  the  Ides  of  March  are  pregnant, 
either  with  good  or  evil  for  "  the  Territory  "  and  its  future. 
That  the  Free  State  people  will  carry  their  new  State  Govern- 
ment into  effect,  by  assembling  their  Legislature,  and  swearing 
in  their  officers  elect,  we  cannot  for  a  moment  doubt  ;  while  we 
have,  at  the  same  time,  good  reason  to  feel  confident,  that  Gov- 
ernor Shannon,  as  the  Territorial  Executive,  will,  in  such  an 
event,  cause  the  parties  concerned  to  be  arrested,  not  for  treason, 
as  has  been  currently  reported,  but  under  a  law  passed  by  the 
so-called  Kansas  "  Bogus  Legislature,"  which  provides,  that  any 
person  who  shall  take  upon  himself  any  trust  or  office,  without 
being  duly  elected,  and  appointed  to  such  trust  or  office,  shall  be 
judged  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor,  and  punished  by  a  certain 
amount  of  fine  or  imprisonment,  which  is  specified  in  "  the  Act." 

And  since  we  have  entered  upon  the  consideration  of  events, 
which  may  take  place  in  Kansas,  it  will  be  well,  at  this  stage  of 
our  erratic  11  History,"  to  lay  before  the*  reader  such  official 
documents,  as  have  recently  been  issued  from  the  highest 
authority  at  Washington,  for  the  guidance  of  the  Territorial 
Executive  and  all  parties  concerned,  in  the  event  of  any  further 
disturbances,  which  might  lead  to  a  violation  of  law  and  order 
iu  the  region  indicated. 

It  will  be  perceived  from  the  following  letters,  that  this  inter- 
ference of  the  President  in  Kansas  affairs  has  been  in  some 


THE  FREE  STATE  LEADERS  TO  THE  PRESIDENT.  369 

measure  called  forth  by  the  solicitations  of  General  Robinson — 
the  so-called  Free  State  Governor  elect,  and  others  of  that 
party. 

Lawrence,  K.  T.  Jan.  21, 1856. 

THE  FREE  STATE  LEADERS  TO  FRANKLIN  PIERCE,  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED 

STATES. 

Sir: 

We  have  authentic  information  that  an  overwhelming  force  of 
the  citizens  of  Missouri  are  organizing  upon  our  border,  amply  supplied 
with  artillery,  for  the  avowed  purpose  of  invading  this  Territory,  demoral- 
izing our  towns  and  butchering  our  unoffending  Free  State  citizens.  We 
respectfully  demand,  on  behalf  of  the  citizens  of  Kansas,  that  the  com- 
mandant of  the  United  States  troops  in  this  vicinity,  be  immediately 
instructed  to  interfere  to  prevent  such  an  inhuman  outrage. 
Respectfully, 

J.  H.  Lane,  Chairman  Ex.  Committee  K.  T. 

C.  Robinson,  Chairman  Ex.  Committee  of  Safety. 
J.  R.  Goodin,  Secretary  Ex.  Committee  K.  T. 
George  W.  Deitzer,  Secretary  Committee  of  Safety. 

Lawrence,  City,  Jan.  23, 1856. 

the  free  state  leaders  to  the  president  of  the  united  states. 

Sir: 

We  notified  you  that  an  overwhelming  force,  supplied  with  artil- 
lery, was  organizing  upon  our  borders  for  the  avowed  purpose  of  invading 
Kansas,  demoralizing  the  towns  and  butchering  the  unoffending  Free  State 
citizens,  they  constituting  fourteen-twentieths  of  the  entire  population.  In 
addition  to  the  relief  respectfully  demanded  in  that  notice,  we  earnestly 
request  you  to  issue  your  proclamation  immediately,  forbidding  the  invas- 
ion. We  trust  there  may  be  no  delay  in  taking  so  important  a  step  to  pre- 
vent an  outrage  which,  if  carried  out  as  planned,  will  stand  forth  without 
a  parallel  in  the  world's  history. 

Yours  respectfully, 

J.  H.  Lane,  Chairman  Ex.  Committee  K.  T. 

C.  Robinson,  Chairman  Committee  of  Safety. 


16* 


370 


BY  ORDER  OF  THE  PRESIDENT. 


The  President  has  accordingly  issued  the  following  procla- 
mation : 

PROCLAMATION  OF  THE  PRESIDENT. 

Whereas,  indications  exist  that  public  tranquillity  and  the  supremacy  of 
law  in  the  Territory  of  Kansas  are  endangered  by  the  reprehensible  acts  or 
purposes  of  persons,  both  within  and  without  the  same,  who  propose  to 
direct  and  control  its  political  organizations  by  force ;  it  appearing  that 
combinations  have  been  formed  thereia  to  resist  the  execution  of  the  Ter- 
ritorial laws,  and  thus,  in  effect  subvert  by  violence  all  present  constitu- 
tional and  legal  authority ;  it  also  appearing  that  persons  residing  without 
the  Territory,  but  near  its  borders,  contemplate  armed  intervention  in  the 
affairs  thereof;  it  also  appearing  that  other  persons,  inhabitants  of  remote 
States,  are  collecting  money,  engaging  men,  and  providing  arms  for  the 
same  purpose ;  and  it  further  appearing  that  combinations  within  the  Ter- 
ritory are  endeavoring,  by  the  agency  of  emissaries  and  otherwise,  to 
induce  individual  States  of  the  Union  to  interfere  in  the  affairs  thereof,  in 
violation  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States.  And,  whereas,  all  such 
plans  for  the  determination  of  the  future  institutions  of  the  Territory,  if  car- 
ried into  action  from  within  the  same,  will  constitute  the  fact  of  insurrection, 
and,  if  from  without,  that  of  invasive  aggression,  and  will,  in  either  case,  jus- 
tify and  require  the  forcible  interposition  of  the  whole  power  of  the  general 
government,  as  well  to  maintain  the  laws  of  the  territory  as  those  of  the  Union. 

Now,  therefore,  I,  Franklin  Pierce,  President  of  the  United  States,  do 
issue  this  my  proclamation  to  command  all  persons  engaged  in  unlawful 
combinations  against  the  constituted  authority  of  the  Territory  of  Kansas 
or  of  the  United  States  to  disperse  and  retire  peaceably  to  their  respective 
abodes,  and  to  warn  all  such  persons  that  an  attempted  insurrection  in  said 
Territory,  or  aggressive  intrusion  into  the  same,  will  be  resisted  not  only 
by  the  employment  of  the  local  militia,  but  also  by  that  of  any  available 
forces  of  the  United  States;  to  the  end  of  assuring  immunity  from  vio- 
lence and  full  protection  to  the  persons,  property  and  civil  rights  of  all 
peaceful  and  law-abiding  inhabitants  of  the  Territory. 

If,  in  any  part  of  the  Union,  the  fury  of  faction  or  fanaticism,  inflamed 
into  disregard  of  the  great  principles  of  popular  sovereignty,  which, 
under  the  Constitution,  are  fundamental  in  the  whole  structure  of  our  insti- 
tutions, is  to  bring  on  the  country  the  dire  calamity  of  an  arbitrament  of 
arms  in  that  Territory,  it  shall  be  between  lawless  violence  on  the  one  side 


MARCY  TO  SHANNON. 


371 


and  conservative  force  on  the  other,  wielded  by  legal  authority  of  the  gen- 
eral government. 

I  call  on  the  citizens,  both  of  adjoining  and  of  distant  States,  to  abstain 
from  unauthorized  intermeddling  in  the  local  concerns  of  the  Territory, 
admonishing  them  that  its  organic  law  is  to  be  executed  with  impartial 
justice ;  that  all  individual  acts  of  illegal  interference  will  incur  condign 
punishment ;  and  that  any  endeavor  to  interfere  by  organized  force  will  be 
firmly  withstood. 

I  invoke  all  good  citizens  to  promote  order  by  rendering  obedience  to 
the  law;  to  seek  remedy  for  temporary  evils  by  peaceful  means;  to  dis- 
countenance and  repulse  the  counsels  and  the  instigations  of  agitators  and 
disorganizers ;  and  to  testify  their  attachment  to  their  country,  their  pride 
in  its  greatness,  their  appreciation  of  the  blessings  they  enjoy,  and  their 
determination  that  republican  institutions  shall  not  fail  in  their  hands,  by 
co-operating  to  uphold  the  majesty  of  the  laws  and  to  vindicate  the  sanc- 
tity of  the  Constitution. 

In  testimony  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand,  and  caused  the  seal 
of  the  United  States  to  be  affixed  to  these  presents. 

Done  at  the  city  of  Washington,  the  eleventh  day  of  February,  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty-six,  and  of  the  inde- 
pendence of  the  United  States  the  eightieth. 

Franklin  Pierce. 

By  the  President :  W.  L.  Marcy,  Secretary  of  State. 

Here  follow  the  Secretary  of  State's  instructions  to  Governor 
Shannon. 

MR.  MARCY  TO  GOVERNOR  SHANNON. 

Department  of  State,  Washington,  Feb.  16, 1856. 

Sir  : 

I  herewith  enclose  to  you  a  copy  of  a  proclamation  by  the  Presi- 
dent, dated  the  11th  inst.,  duly  authenticated,  and  also  a  copy  of  orders 
issued  from  the  Department  of  War  to  Colonel  Sumner  and  Brevet  Colonel 
Cooke,  of  the  United  States  Army. 

The  President  is  unwilling  to  believe  that,  in  executing  your  duties  as 
Governor  of  the  Territory  of  Kansas,  there  will  be  any  occasion  to  call  in 
the  aid  of  the  United  States  troops  for  that  purpose,  and  it  is  enjoined  upon 
you  to  do  all  that  can  possibly  be  done  before  resorting  to  that  measure ; 
yet  if  it  becomes  indispensably  necessary  to  do  so,  in  order  to  execute  the 


372 


INSTRUCTIONS  TO  COLONELS   SUMNER  AND  COOKE. 


laws,  and  preserve  the  peace,  you  are  hereby  authorized  by  the  President 
to  make  requisition  upon  the  officers  commanding  the  United  States  mili- 
tary forces  at  Fort  Leavenworth  and  Fort  Riley,  for  such  assistance  as 
may  be  needed  for  the  above  specified  purpose.  While  confiding  in  the  * 
respect  of  our  citizens  for  the  laws,  and  the  efficiency  of  the  ordinary 
means  provided  for  protecting  their  rights  and  property,  he  deems  it,  how- 
ever, not  improper,  considering  the  peculiar  situation  of  affairs  in  the  Ter- 
ritory of  Kansas,  that  you  should  be  authorized  to  have  the  power  herein 
conferred,  with  a  view  to  meet  any  extraordinary  emergency  that  may 
arise,  trusting  that  it  will  not  be  used  until  you  shall  find  a  resort  to  it  un- 
avoidable, in  order  to  insure  the  due  execution  of  the  laws  and  to  preserve 
the  public  peace. 

Before  actual  interposition  of  the  military  force  on  any  occasion,  you 
will  cause  the  proclamation  of  the  President,  with  which  you  are  herewith 
furnished,  to  be  publicly  read. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

W.  L.  Marcy. 

Hon.  Wilson  Shannon,  Governor  of  the  Territory  of  Kansas. 

The  following  communication  is  addressed  to  Governor  Shan- 
non, as  the  Chief  Executive  of  Kansas  Territory,  by  the  Secre- 
tary of  War.  It  covers  a  copy  of  the  orders  issued  from  his 
department  to  Colonels  Sumner  and  Cooke,  the  military  com- 
mandants, who  are  directed,  under  certain  contingencies,  to  lend 
their  aid  in  putting  down  any  future  disturbance  which  may 
arise  in  Kansas. 

THE  SECRETARY  OF  WAR  TO  COLONELS  SUMNER  AND  COOKE. 

War  Department,  Washington,  Feb.  15,  1856. 

Sir: 

The  President  has,  by  proclamation,  warned  all  persons,  combined 
for  insurrection  or  invasive  aggression  against  the  organized  government 
of  the  Territory  of  Kansas,  or  associated  to  resist  the  due  execution  of  the 
laws  therein,  to  al  stain  from  such  revolutionary  and  lawless  proceedings, 
and  has  commanded  ihem  to  disperse,  and  retire  peaceably  to  their  re- 
spective abodes,  on  pain  of  being  resisted  by  his  whole  constitutional  pow- 
er.   If,  therefore,  the  Governor  of  the  Territory,  finding  the  ordinary 


JEFFERSOX  DAVIS  TO  GOVERNOR  SHANNON. 


373 


course  of  judicial  proceedings  and  the  powers  vested  in  the  United  States 
Marshals  inadequate  for  the  suppression  of  insurrectionary  combinations 
or  armed  resistance  to  the  execution  of  the  law,  should*  make  requisition 
upon  you  to  furnish  a  military  force  to  aid  him  in  the  performance  of  that 
official  duty,  you  are  hereby  directed  to  employ  for  that  purpose,  such  part 
of  your  command  as  may,  in  your  judgment,  consistently  be  detached  from 
their  ordinary  duty. 

In  executing  this  delicate  function  of  the  military  power  of  the  United 
States,  you  will  exercise  much  caution,  to  avoid,  if  possible,  collision  with 
even  insurgent  citizens,  and  will  endeavor  to  suppress  resistance  to  the 
laws  and  constituted  authorities,  by  that  moral  force,  which  happily,  in  our 
country,  is  ordinarily  sufficient  to  secure  respect  to  the  laws  of  the  land, 
and  the  regularly  constituted  authorities  of  the  government.  You  will  use 
a  sound  discretion  as  to  the  moment  at  which  the  further  employment  of 
the  military  force  may  be  discontinued,  and  avail  yourself  of  the  first  op- 
portunity to  return  with  your  command  to  the  more  grateful  and  prouder 
service  of  the  soldier — that  of  common  defence. 

For  your  guidance  in  the  premises,  you  are  referred  to  the  acts  of  28th 
of  February,  1795,  and  3d  of  March,  1807  [see  Military  Laws,  pages  301 
and  123],  and  to  the  proclamation  of  the  President,  a  copy  of  which  is 
herewith  transmitted. 

Should  you  need  further  and  more  specific  instructions,  or  should,  in  the 
progress  of  events,  doubts  arise  in  your  mind  as  to  the  course  which  it 
may  be  proper  for  you  to  pursue,  you  will  communicate  directly  with  this 
Department,  stating  the  points  upon  which  you  wish  to  be  informed. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Jefferson  Davis, 
Secretary  of  War. 

War  Department,  Feb.  15, 1856. 

Sir: 

The  foregoing  is  a  copy  of  the  letters  addressed  to  Colonel  E.  V. 
Sumner,  United  States  Army,  commanding  at  Fort  Leavenworth,  and  to 
Brevet  Colonel  P.  St.  G.  Cooke,  'commanding  at  Fort  Ripley,  and  is  fur- 
nished for  your  information. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Jefferson  Davis, 
Secretary  of  War. 
Hon.  Wilson  Shannon,  Governor  of  Kansas  Territory. 


374 


FROM  THE  GOVERNOR  OF  INDIANA. 


Among  the  various  answers  which,  have  been  addressed  to  the 
Kansas  Free  State  party — appeal  for  aid — we  have  seen  nc 
document  so  unexceptionable,  both  in  its  tone,  and  in  the  very 
high  ground  which  it  takes,  upon  the  subject  of  "  State  interfer- 
ence," as  the  following  communication  from  Governor  Wright  ?f 
Indiana. 

REPLY  OF  THE  GOVERNOR  OF  INDIANA  TO  THE  KANSAS  APPEAL 
FOR  AID. 

In  answer  to  the  appeal  for  aid  signed  by  J.  H.  Lane,  Chair- 
man of  the  Executive  Committee,  and  C.  Robinson,  Governor- 
elect  of  Kansas  Territory,  Governor  Wright,  of  Indiana,  has 
written  the  following  letter: 

Executive  Department,  Indiana,  ) 
Indianapolis,  Feb.  12, 1856.  j 

Gentlemen: 

Your  communication  of  the  31st  of  January,  addressed  to  me  in 
an  official  capacity,  and  asking  that  steps  may  be  taken  to  protect  your 
people  from  the  violence  of  the  citizens  of  Missouri,  is  now  before  me. 

If  the  Legislature  were  in  session,  I  should  lay  your  communication 
before  them,  not  with  the  most  remote  idea  that  Indiana  would  deviate 
from  her  well-known  opinion,  upon  the  principle  involved,  but  out  of 
respect  to  you  as  citizens. 

I  shall  certainly  not  interfere  in  the  domestic  institutions  of  your  Terri- 
tory, nor  recommend  that  our  people  should  take  any  part  therein. 

The  conduct  of  the  Missourians,  as  well  as  of  those  from  the  Free  States, 
who  have  gone  into  your  Territory,  with  the  view  of  controlling  your 
elections,  and  not  to  become  bona  fide  citizens,  is  alike  reprehensible,  and 
liable  to  the  severest  censure  and  punishment. 

But  the  remedy  for  these  evils  is  properly  and  constitutionally  lodged 
with  the  legal  and  sovereign  power  of  the  Territory ;  and  if  this  is  not 
sufficient,  it  is  most  wisely  left  to  the  action  of  the  Executive  of  the  Nation, 
and  to  that  of  Congress. 

Our  form  of  Government  never  contemplated,  for  a  moment,  that,  in  the 
domestic  troubles  so  frequently  arising  in  the  different  States  and  Terri- 
tories of  the  Union,  sister  States  in  the  confederacy  should  take  any  part. 


SENSIBLE  AND  TO  THE  POINT. 


375 


Whenever  this  doctrine  is  assumed  and  carried  out,  we  shall  find  ourselves 
approaching  a  state  of  things  that  will  sweep  away  all  the  safe  bonds  and 
ties  that  bind  us  together  as  one  people. 

We  must  live  faithfully  up  to  all  our  contracts — not  only  discharging  the 
duties  we  owe  to  our  own  State  or  Territory,  but  those  we  owe  to  the 
National  Government.  And  this  can  be  done  most  effectually  by  guarding 
against  the  slightest  encroachment  upon  the  great  bond  of  our  Union, 
which  makes  us  a  united  people.  In  the  furtherance  of  this  object  we 
should  act  toward  every  member  .of  the  confederacy  alike — to  each  as 
equal  to  equal.  While  we  enjoy  the  right  to  make  our  own  form  of  Go- 
vernment as  to  all  our  domestic  institutions,  we  should  freely  accord  the 
same  right  to  others. 

There  is  a  spirit  of  propagandism,  which  seems  to  be  increasing  in  the 
South  and  the  North,  to  which  even  the  law-making  powers  is  invoked. 
This  must  not  be  countenanced  or  encouraged.  The  whole  force  of  the 
legal  power  of  the  State  or  Territory,  must  be  brought  into  vigorous  action 
to  arrest  it. 

When  this  fails,  the  ample  power  vested  by  the  Constitution  in  the  Exe- 
cutive, and  Congress  of  the  nation,  must  be  sought.  Should  all  this  prove 
ineffectual,  we  shall  be  not  only  on  the  verge  of  anarchy  and  rebellion,  but 
ready  for  the  worst  of  all  evils — intestine  war  with  all  the  calamities  that 
must  follow  the  hostile  array  of  neighbor  against  neighbor,  brother  against 
brother,  son  against  sire — war  among  those  of  the  same  race,  the  same 
name,  the  same  blood. 

As  a  State,  we  are  surrounded  by  our  sisters  in  the  confederacy,  differing 
in  many  domestic  institutions.  In  some  of  them  have  occurred  mobs, 
riots,  and  destruction  of  human  life ;  in  others  the  sanctuary  of  the  elec- 
tive franchise  has  been  invaded ;  but  the  thought  has  never  occurred  to 
our  peaceable  and  law-abiding  citizens  that  the  sovereign  power  in  these 
respective  States,  in  connection  with  the  strong  national  arms,  was  insuf- 
ficient to  bring  about  the  observance  of  law  and  order. 

So  long  as  our  people  recognize  this  principle,  and  fully  carry  it  out,  we 
shall  have  respect  for  the  supremacy  of  law,  and  for  its  administrators.  If 
we  depart  from  it  in  the  higher  and  more  delicate  relation  that  we  sustain 
to  the  different  members  of  the  confederacy,  we  shall  find  that,  in  the  same 
proportion,  citizens  of  the  counties  and  townships  will  be  engaged  in  open 
violation  of  law — trampling  upon  those  in  authority,  in  the  smaller  com- 
munities, and  there  will  be  no  safety  for  property,  liberty,  or  life. 

The  want  of  confidence,  North  and  South,  in  the  ability  of  the  people  of 


376 


HIGHLY  CREDITABLE  TO  ITS  AUTHOR. 


Kansas  to  mould  their  own  institutions  to  suit  themselves,  and  the  con- 
sequent aggressive  spirit  of  interference  for  the  purpose  of  influencing 
their  elections,  seem  to  originate  in  a  sort  of  egotism,  both  in  parties  and 
individual  citizens,  who,  while  they  doubt  the  integrity  and  capacity  of  the 
people  of  Kansas,  are  ready  to  assert  their  own  honesty  and  ability  to 
regulate  their  institutions  for  them. 

Indiana,  as  a  State,  has  wisely  selected  her  own  domestic  policy.  She  is 
willing  to  give  her  neighbors  the  same  right,  and  to  suppose  them  capable 
of  choosing  and  deciding  for  themselves.  She  has  never  given  any  cause  of 
complaint  to  any  of  her  sister  States  or  Territories.  And  I  do  most  sincerely 
hope  that  none  of  her  citizens  will  so  far  forget  the  relation  they  sustain  to 
their  neighbors,  and  the  national  compact,  as  to  take  any  part  in  the  strifes 
and  contentions  of  others  who  are  openly  violating  the  laws  of  the  land. 

Notwithstanding  it  was  telegraphed  from  your  Territory  to  New  York 
that  I  was  willing  and  ready  to  offer  the  assistance  of  citizens  of  this  State, 
in  your  controversy,  let  me  assure  you  that  while  I  have  the  honor  to  be 
her  Executive  officer,  I  will  not  in  any  manner  attempt  to  bring  her  down 
from  her  present  high  position,  and  have  her  in  any  way  mingling  in  the 
domestic  strife  of  her  sister  States  or  Territories.  The  sentiment  of  our 
people  is  to  leave  the  settlement  of  these  questions  to  the  people  of  Kansas, 
who  are  the  actual  citizens  of  the  Territory.  If  this  cannot  be  brought 
about — if  influences  are  at  work  which  render  this  impossible — the  remedy 
is  not  to  be  found  by  others  unlawfully  interfering,  but,  by  the  Constitution 
and  laws,  is  most  properly  lodged  in  the  hands  of  those  who  have  the 
power  and  ability  to  restore  order  and  peace. 

Appeals  are  frequently  made  to  our  sympathies,  to  redress  grievances 
and  outrages,  which  occur  in  many  of  the  relations  of  life,  and  in  many 
instances,  these  influences  command  our  services.  But  in  the  higher  and 
more  important  relations  we  sustain  to  each  other,  as  members  of  our 
happy  form  of  government,  the  Constitution  and  the  laws  should  alone  be 
the  rule  of  our  action. 

There  are  those  who  indulge  in  the  use  of  hard  names  and  sectional 
phrases,  such  as  subserviency  to  Southern  interest,  doughfaces,  and  the 
like,  in  order  to  influence  the  public  mind,  and  to  arouse  our  people  to  the 
violation  of  law.  All  this,  however,  I  ardently  hope,  will  not  lead  our 
people  away  from  the  great  principle  that  underlies  all  our  institutions— 
the  absolute  right  of  each  State  and  Territory  to  make  its  own  institutions, 
without  the  influence  of  others. 

Upon  this  principle  we  can  stand  and  maintain  the  peace  and  harmony 


A  TRIFLING  MISTAKE  SOMEWHERE. 


of  the  Union  with  safety  and  honor.  It  is  the  corner  stone  upon  which 
the  security  and  perpetuity  of  the  Union  rests. 

Having  the  utmost  confidence  that  the  people  of  Indiana  will  not,  under 
any  circumstances,  abandon  this  high  position,  I  frankly  say  to  you,  no 
efforts  will  be  made  by  this  department  to  induce  a  solitary  citizen  to  enter 
upon  a  crusade  against  any  portion  of  the  people  of  the  Union  or  their 
institutions.    If  others  do  wrong,  we  will  do  right. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  yours  most  respectfully, 

Joseph  A.  Wright. 
James  H.  Lane,C.  Robinson,  and  George  W.  Deitzer,  Lawrence  City,  K.  T. 

We  feel  constrained  to  add  the  following  note.  While  in 
Lawrence,  we  heard  it  spoken  of  as  a  matter  of  public  notoriety, 
that  Governor  Wright,  of  Indiana,  was  one  of  the  strongest  and 
most  active  sympathizers  with  the  Free  State  party  in  Kansas, 
in  proof  of  which,  General  Lane,  on  one  occasion,  exhibited  to 
us  a  letter,  which  he  informed  us  had  been  received  by  himself, 
from  Governor  Wright,  of  Indiana,  but  a  day  or  two  before. 
We  read  this  letter.  It  was,  if  we  remember  aright,  dated  at 
Indianapolis,  and  was  certainly  signed  by  Joseph  A.  Wright. 
The  writer,  in  this  communication,  approves  in  the  strongest 
terms  of  the  course  pursued  by  the  Free  State  leaders  in 
Kansas — advises  Lane  to  go  on  as  he  had  begun — assures  him 
of  sympathy,  and  promises  "material  aid"  in  the  following,  or 
nearly,  the  following  words  • 

"  I  have  money,  and  can  raise  men,  and  if  necessary,  will 
furnish  five  hundred  as  good  boys  as  are  to  be  found  upon  the 
Wabash  valley." 

Now,  we  should  be  pleased  to  know,  how  we  are  to  reconcile 
this  plain  spoken  letter,  which  preaches  "  war  to  the  knife,"  with 
his  Excellency  of  Indiana's  very  pacific  reply  to  his  soi-disan 
Correspondent's  appeal  for  help,  when  it  comes  before  him  in  his 
official  capacity,  and  in  which  he  vindicates  doctrines,  which 
would  do  credit  to  William  Penn,  or  Mr.  Bright  himself  ?  There 
is  evidently  a  trifling  mistake  somewhere. 


378 


THE  FIRST  LEGISLATURE  OF  KANSAS. 


We  may  as  well  add  the  finale  to  our  documentary 
information,  by  closing  this  chapter  with  an  abstract  from  the 
official  catalogue  of  the  members  and  officers  of  both  houses  of 
the  First  Legislative  Assembly  of  Kansas  Territory,  which  con- 
vened on  the  2d  day  of  July,  1855.  This  is  what  the  Free  State 
party  call  the  "  Missouri  Bogus  Legislature/' 


MEMBERS  AND  OFFICERS  OF  THE  COUNCIL. 


Names. 

Age. 

Occupation. 

Nati- 
vity. 

How  long  in 
the  Territory. 

Quotations  from  their  speeches. 

T.  Johnson,  President, 
Supt.  of  Shawnee  Mis. 

53  yr's. 

Farmer, 

Va., 

18  Years, 

Justice  to  all. 

R.  R.  Reese,  Pres't.  pro 
tern., 

43  " 

Lawyer, 

Ohio, 

10  months, 

Just  laws  and  rigid  exe- 
cution. 

John  W.  Forman, 

36  " 

Merchant, 

Ky., 

12  years, 

The  Organic  Act — our 

Charter  of  Liberty. 

A.  M.  Coffey, 

51  « 

Farmer, 

Ky., 

4  " 

"  The  Union,  it  must  be 
preserved." 

D.  Lykins, 

34  " 

Physician. 

Ia., 

12  " 

Cuba  must  be  annexed. 

W.  P.  Richardson,  Maj. 
Gen.  Com'g.  K.  If., 

53  " 

Farmer, 

Ky., 

9  " 

Hemp  for  negro-stealers. 

H.  J.  Strickler,  Brig'r. 

24  « 

Survey'r  & 

Va., 

6  months, 

The  South  and  her  In- 

Gen. K.  M., 

Civ.  Eng. 

stitutions. 

L.  J.  Eastin,  do.,  Ed. 
Leavenw'th  City  He'd. 

40  " 

Printer, 

Ky., 

9  « 

Negro  Slavery  for  Kan- 
sas.   "  Good." 

D.  A.  N.  Groyer, 

26  '« 

Lawyer, 

Ky., 

10  years, 

Homestead     for  the 
Squatters. 

Wm.  Barbee, 

29  " 

Lawyer, 

Ky., 

1  « 

Majority  shall  rule. 

The  cause  I  advocate 

Jno.  Donaldson, 

25  " 

Merchant, 

Ky., 

6  months, 

must  succeed.  It  is  right, 

it  is  just. 

A.  McDonald, 

37  " 

Lawyer, 

Va., 

10  " 

"  United  we  stand." 

As  an  American,  I  reve- 
rence the  Constitution, 

E.  Chapman, 

27  " 

Lawyer, 

La., 

10  " 

now  and  forever. 

Jno.  A.  Halderman,  Ch. 
Clk. 

24  " 

Lawyer, 

Mo., 

14  " 

Ch.  H.  Grover,  As.  Clk. 

24  « 

Lawyer, 

Ky., 

11  years, 

A  new  treaty  with  the 

Delawares. 

T.  C.  Hughes,  En'g.  Clk. 

37  " 

Farmer, 

Md., 

5  months, 

Down  with  the  National 
Democracy  in  Kansas. 
Kansas—  May  her  virgin! 

S.  J.  Waful,  En'g.  Clk. 

23  » 

Farmer, 

N.  Y., 

14  *« 

soil  be  unpolluted  by  the' 

foul  stain  of  free-soilism. 

C.  B.  Whitehead,  Sgt.- 
at-arms, 

41  « 

Farmer, 

Va., 

2  years. 

OFFICIAL  LIST  OF  THE  MEMBERS.  319 


MEMBERS  AND  OFFICERS  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES. 


Names. 

Age. 

Occupation. 

Nati- 
vity. 

How  long  in 
the  territory. 

Quotations  from  their  speeches. 

J.  M.  Banks, 

36 

yr's. 

Farmer, 

Penn., 

1  Year, 

"Justice  and  truth." 

J."  P.  Blair, 

1- 

-t  I 

Farmer, 

Tenn., 

6  months, 

0.  H.  Browne, 

34 

Farmer, 

Md., 

1  year, 

"  Be  just  and  fear  not." 

D.  L.  Croysdale, 

2G 

Physician, 

Mo., 

1  " 

H.  B.  C.  Harris, 

30 

J, 

Physician, 

Va., 

9  months, 

Act  justly  but  fearlessly. 
"  The  South— her  rights 
and  interests." 

W.  A.  Heiskill, 

47 

u 

Merchant, 

Va., 

6  years, 

Samuel  D.  Houston, 

36 

Farmer, 

Ohio, 

Alex.  S.  Johnson, 

23 

Farmer, 

K.  T., 

23  » 

Peaceably  if  we  can — 
forcibly  if  we  must. 

R.  L.  Kirk, 

37 

Farmer, 

Ky., 

9  months, 

"  My  country,  my  whole 
country." 

Frank  J.  Marshall, 

38 

Merchant, 

Va., 

4  years, 

■  Be  sure  you're  right, 
then  go-ahead." 

Wm.  G-.  Mathias, 

29 

Lawyer, 

Md., 

10  months, 

No  disorganization — no 
fanaticism. 

M.  W.  McGee, 

36 

Merchant, 

Ky., 

1  year, 

Kansas  with  Southern 
institutions. 

H.  D.  McMeekin, 

33 

« 

Merchant, 

Ky., 

5  " 

"  We  fight  to  conquer." 

A.  Payne, 

36 

Farmer, 

Ky., 

1  " 

Union  first — South  all 
the  time. 

Samuel  Scott, 

52 

Farmer, 

Ky., 

7  months, 

Onward  march  to  vic- 
tory. 

W.  H.  Tebba, 

32 

Physician, 

Va., 

1  year, 

Non- intercourse  and 
Southern  rights. 

A.  B.  Wade, 

26 

(i 

Farmer, 

Mo., 
Ky., 

1  " 

G.  W.  Ward, 

55 

Farmer, 

1  « 

Justice  and  the  South. 

T.  W.  Waterson, 

r  armer, 

Penn., 

lb  months, 

Kansas  for  the  South, 
now  and  forever. 

Jonah  Weddle 

Teacher, 

Va., 

1  year, 

"  Kansas,  the  South  and 
the  Union. " 

Jas.  Whitlock, 

37 

u 

Farmer, 

Mo., 

10  months, 

My  country's  flag. 
"  Kansas     and  the 
Union."  / 

Samuel  A.  Williams, 

35 

" 

Farmer, 

Ky., 

6  ", 

Allen  Wilkinson, 

35 

Farmer, 

Tenn., 

8  « 

H.  W.  Younger, 

43 

CI 

Farmer, 

Mo., 

8  " 

Order  and  liberty. 

J.  H.  Stringfellow,  Sp'kr 

Ed.  of  11  Squatter  So- 

35 

M 

Physician, 

Va., 

1  year, 

Squatter  rights. 

vereign," 
J.  C.  Anderson,  Sp'ker, 

pro  tern, 
J.  M.  Lyle,  Chief  Clerk. 

OK 

22 

" 

Lawyer, 
Lawyer, 

Ky., 
S.  C, 

10  months, 
6  " 

Vox  populi,vox  Dei. 
Civil  and  religious  1: 
berty. 

Jno.  Martin,  As't.  Cl'k. 

21 

Lawyer, 

Tenn., 

6  " 

Strict  construction  of 
the  Constitution. 

J.   C.  Thompson,  En- 
gros.  Clerk, 

■25 

Lawyer, 

Ohio, 

1  year, 

To  the  victors  belo:; 
the  spoils. 

B.  F.  Simmons,  Enroll- 
ing Clerk, 

29 

(1 

Lawyer, 

n.  a, 

6  months, 

Union  only  when  it  pro- 
tects our  interests. 

T.  J.  B.  Cramer,  Serg't- 

at-Arms, 
B.  P.  Campbell,  Door- 

Keeper, 

S3 

u 

Farmer, 

Va., 

1  year, 

28 

Farmer, 

N.  Y., 

10  months, 

"Kansas    to    »;e  the 
brightest  star  of  all." 

John  T.  Peery,  Chap- 
lain, 

38 

Minister, 

Va., 

12  years, 

Religion — the    c  rner- 
stone  of  civilization.  . 

John  T.  Brady,  Pub.  Pr. 

24 

H 

Lawyer, 

Md., 

16  months. 

The  Consti'ution. 

S.  A.  Lowe,  Cong.  Clk. 

35 

(1 

Lawyer, 

Md., 

2  years, 

Money  makes  the  mare 
go- 

Note. — The  members  were  all  Pro-Slavery  in  their  politics,  except  Samuel  D.  Houston 
— a  Free  Soiler— who,  finding  himself  in  a  strong  minority,  resigned  his  seat. 


380 


CITIZENSHIP  OF  THE  BOGUS  LEGISLATURE. 


If  the  foregoing  be  correct,  it  certainly  goes  far  towards  dis- 
proving the  allegations  which  have  been  made  as  to  the  members 
of  the  so-called  Missouri  Bogus  Legislature  being  citizens  of 
Missouri.  For  it  will  be  perceived,  by  reference  to  these  tables 
— which  are  accurate  extracts  from  the  official  record — that 
eleven  Members  of  the  Council  had  been  residents  of  the  Terri- 
tory for  over  a  year,  six  of  whom  had  been  ten  years  in  Kansas  ; 
while  of  the  members  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  twenty 
individuals  had  resided  in  the  Territory  for  one  year,  of  whom 
five  were  residents  of  over  four  years'  standing:  the  total  of 
officers  and  members  of  both  houses  being  fifty-three.  Of  the 
quotations  from  their  speeches,  we  like  those  the  best  of  Messrs. 
Coffey  and  Chapman  in  the  Council,  and  Martin  and  Brady  iu 
the  House.    They  are  evidently  Union  men  of  the  right  stamp 

JUSTICE  TO  GOVERNOR  WRIGHT. 

Note. — Since  writing  the  foregoing,  we  have  learned  from  a  gentleman  who  left  Law- 
rence on  the  29th  of  January,  that  the  letter  referred  to — which  Gen.  Lane  supposed  to 
have  been  penned  by  His  Excellency  the  Governor  of  Indiana — was  really  written  by 
Judge  John  W.  Wright,  of  that  State ;  the  epistle  being  signed  J.  W.  Wright,  and  being, 
moreover,  very  hastily  written,  the  initial  of  the  middle  name,  W.,  was  mistaken  for  A., 
which  is  the  second  initial  of  Governor  Wright's  name — hence  the  mistake.  Judge 
Wright's  letter,  as  we  have  been  informed,  was  published  in  the  New  York  Tribune; 
it  says,  if  we  remember  the  words,  "  I  have  S07is  and  money,  and  will  raise  five  hundred 
as  good  boys,"  &c.  As  His  Excellency  the  Governor  has  been  blessed  with  but  one 
daughter^  and  no  boys  at  all,  it  has  afforded  no  little  amusement  to  the  good  people  of 
Indiana  that  their  Governor  should  have  been  accused  of  volunteering  to  send  his  sons  to 
fight  a  possible  Free  State  battle  in  Kansas.  Judge  Wright,  by  the  way,  is  reported  to 
stand  ly  his  belligerent  communication.  We  sincerely  hope  that  the  Governor  will  be 
equal'y  strenuous  in  carrying  out  to  the  letter,  the  irreproachable  sentiments  contained  In 
his  reply. 


LAWRENCE  BY  COMPARISON. 


381 


CHAPTER  •  XXXYIII. 

FREE    STATE    ODDS    AND  ENDS. 

To  return  to  the  consideration  of  Lawrence,  or  rather,  to 
contrast  the  place  with  other  frontier  settlements,  we  should 
say,  that  if  Free-State-ism  be  an  element  of  respectability,  the 
town  of  Lawrence  is  certainly  a  proof  of  its  salutary  effect,  for 
in  many  respects,  it  will  compare  favorably  with  any  Far 
Western,  or,  for  that  matter,  almost  any  New  England  village, 
as  regards  the  moral  and  intellectual  tone  of  its  inhabitants. 
We  must  allow  that  while  we  remained  there,  we  saw  neither 
card-playing,  gambling,  nor  drinking;  which  is  more,  we  fancy, 
than  even  the  most  enthusiastic  admirer  of  "  Southern  institu- 
tions," can  say  truthfully,  of  any  Pro-Slavery  town  in  Kansas. 
And  this  commendation  of  Lawrence  may,  if  we  be  correctly 
informed,  apply  to  most  of  the  Free  State  settlements  in  the 
Territory.  The  same  thing  may  also  be  alleged  in  the  majority 
of  individual  cases. 

"  I  can  tell,"  said  a  Pro-Slavery  man  to  us,  during  our  sojourn 
in  Kansas,  "  I  can  tell  a  Free  State  settler's  claim  from  a 
Pro-Slavery  man's — particularly,  if  the  latter  owns  negroes,  as 
far  as  I  can  see  it;  for  while  the  slave-owner's  dwelling  is,  as  a 
general  thing,  in  bad  repair,  and  his  land  shiftlessly  cultivated, 
the  Free  Soiler's  farm  is  not  only  well  cared  for,  but  exhibits,  in 
all  its  appointments,  the  orderly  results  of  a  superintending  head 
as  well  as  a  working  arm 


382 


A  PRO-SLAVERY  SQUATTER'S  CABIN. 


We  must  confess  that  this  very  candid  admission,  on  the  part 
of  our  Pro-Slavery  friend,  has  been  abundantly  endorsed  by  our 
own  personal  observations,  both  in  Kansas  and  elsewhere* 
There  is  a  difference,  and  a  most  unmistakable  one,  between 
the  surroundings  and  conveniences  of  life,  which  are,  even  upon 
the  frontier,  a  sine  qua  non  with  the  Free  State  emigrant ;  and 
the  "  dead-and-alive,"  "  get-along-any-how  "  system,  which  but 
too  frequently  renders  comfortless  the  Pro-Slavery  man's  "im- 
provement." Were  we  to  analyze  the  causes  which  lead  to,  and 
continue  this  strongly-marked  contrast,  we  should  say,  that  it 
proceeded  not  from  any  physical  or  natural  advantages  on  the 
part  of  the  more  thrifty  proprietor,  but  simply  from  the  fact, 
that  in  the  one  case,  the  agriculturist  does  his  own  work,  and 
has  it  well  done  in  consequence;  while  in  the  other,  the  planter 
trusts  to  chance,  and  a  lazy  "  nigger  "  or  two,  which  usually 
ends  in  things  being  only  half  done,  or,  as  sometimes  happens, 
in  their  being  neglected  altogether. 

As  an  evidence  of  the  very  dissimilar  working  out  of  the  two 
systems  just  referred  to,  we  will  give  the  reader  a  brief  outline — 
with  the  proviso,  that  "there  are  exceptions  to  all  general  rules" 
— of  a  "  squatter's  improvement  "  in  either  case  :  and  first  for 
the  Pro- Slavery  man's. 

More  land  than  its  owner  can  cultivate  properly  "  at  present," 
or  probably  ever  will;  an  ill-daubed  cabin;  a  tumble-down 
chimney;  a  filthy  yard;  hogs  and  poultry  running  at  large, 
where  they  ought  not  to  be;  the  fences  down;  the  gate,  if  there 
be  one,  off  the  hinges;  the  doors  too  short  for  the  spaces  they 
are  intended  to  fill;  the  windows  stuffed  with  old  hats  and  cast 
off  clothing,  to  make  up  for  their  deficiencies  in  glass ;  timber- 
land  half  cleared  ;  and  then  left  to  grow  up  again;  no  shelter  for 
the  cattle;  more  than  a  sufficiency  of  snarling  worthless  curs.  So 
much  for  exterior.  Within  : — A  dirty  floor,  and  tobacco-stained 
hearth;  broken,  or  worse  still,  half-mended  furniture;  no  books; 


THE  FREE  SOILER's  LOCATION. 


383 


ink  hard  to  find;  writing-paper  laid  away  since  the  "old  man 
writ  out  a  receipt  for  Sam  Harris's  nigger  about  six  months 
ago;"  pens  in  some  un-come-at-able  locality;  whisky  plenty;  a 
"pack  of  keards"  in  the  house;  the  females  look  care-worn, 
sickly,  and  overworked;  the  children  would  be  the  better  for  a 
little  "DeownEast"  common  schooling;  the  man  himself  seems 
rough,  uncouth — and  in  political  matters,  where  his  peculiar 
prejudices  come  in  play,  is  narrow-minded,  ignorant,  and  uncom- 
promising. His  best  hope  in  life  is  to  "  get  along  "  in  a  happy- 
go-lucky  sort  of  way,  which  he  calls  "  a-doin'-right-peartly"; 
and  his  sole  policy,  as  an  agriculturist,  is  expressed  in  a  firm 
determination,  which  he  is  constantly  coming  to,  but  never 
carries  out — not  to  raise  hogs  and  corn  upon  his  farm,  another 
year,  because  he  did  so  last  season,  which  resulted,  as  he 
"allows"  in  "  thar  hogs  eatin'  up  all  thar  corn,  an'  thar  nig- 
gars  eatin'  up  all  thar  hogs,"  a  procedure  that  left  him  at  the 
end  of  the  year,  with  a  balance  "  of  nary  red  cent  to  buy  store 
goods  with."    "  And  so  he  plays  his  part." 

But  how  is  it  with  the  Free  Sorter's  "location  ?" 

Timber-land  yielding  slowly,  but  surely,  to  an  axe,  that 
leaves  no  unfinished  work  behind  it;  cultivated  fields,  which  are 
witnesses  in  themselves,  that  no  effort  has  been  spared  to  make 
the  recently  virgin  soil  do  its  utmost  as  a  producer.  A  rough 
cabin,  it  is  true,  but  as  comfortable  within,  as  mud  plastering 
and  solid  logs  can  make  it.  The  fences  are  in  good  order;  the 
gate  turns  easily  upon  its  home-made  hinges,  and  is  kept  closed 
by  a  weight,  which  does  what  careless  people  sometimes  forget 
to  do,  by  shutting  it.  The  windows,  like  an  old  lady  with  the 
rheumatism,  are  full  of  panes;  the  "unclean  beast"  keeps  his 
place,  and  the  chickens  have  a  coop;  there  is  euough  and  to 
spare  in  the  store-room,  and  food  for  the  brain  upon  the  shelf. 
The  woman  is  something  more  than  a  domestic  drudge;  there 


884 


FREE  STATE  AMUSEMEN1S. 


are  fifty  things  that  tell  of  her  feminine  taste,  as  well  as  pains- 
taking neatness  in  the  little  adornments  of  this  frontier  home. 
The  children  "  get  their  lessons "  and  "  say  them  to  mamma 
every  day."  The  man  himself  is  keen,  shrewd,  and  calcu- 
lating; he  determines  what  ought  to  be  done,  and  then  goes  and 
does  it.    He  will,  if  circumstances  favor,  grow  rich. 

And  now,  we  would  appeal  confidently  to  any  common  sense, 
and  impartial  Pro-Slavery  man,  to  know  whether  these  two 
every-day  pictures  are,  or  are  not,  "  sketches  from  the  life," 
which  could  be  verified,  if  need  be,  by  ten  miles  of  travel,  in 
almost  any  one  of  the  border  counties  of  our  far-western  slave- 
holding  States  ? 

The  amusements — if  so  warlike  a  people  have  time  for  such  fri. 
volities — of  the  good  citizens  of  Lawrence,  would  appear  to  be 
confined  to  the  excitement  of  talking  politics,  getting  up  meetings, 
passing  resolutions,  listening  to  speeches,  and  discussing  Kansas 
matters  generally  ;  unless,  indeed,  when  they  see  fit  to  vary 
these  pastimes  by  the  lighter  relaxations  of  "  playing  soldier," 
digging  trenches,  and  building  mud  forts,  or  it  may  be,  by  danc- 
ing, until  the  grey  dawn  peeps  rebukingly  in  upon  their  revels, 
at  such  social  gatherings  as  that  which  we  have  endeavored 
to  describe,  under  the  head  of  the  "  New  Year's  Night  party." 

There  is  yet  another  peculiarity  about  these  "  Lawrence 
folks,"  which  is  decidedly  in  their  favor — they  are  a  reading  peo- 
ple, and  here  again,  as  a  faithful  delineator,  we  are  constrained 
to  admit,  that  this  seems  a  Free  State  singularity,  also,  for  on 
the  Border,  "  niggers"  and  brains,  do  not,  alas  !  always  go 
hand  in  hand.  They  are,  moreover,  if  the  postmasters  are,  to  be 
credited — a  writing  people — at  least,  so  far  as  their  correspond- 
ence is  concerned — for  those  having  charge  of  Uncle  Sam's  mails, 
say,  that  the  Lawrence  letter-bags  both  go  and  come  more 
heavily  laden,  than  those  of  any  other  town  in  the  Territory. 


WT   DETERMINE  TO  LEAVE  KANSAS. 


385 


As  another  evidence  of  her  literary  proclivities,  Lawrence  is 
soon  to  have  a  "  circulating  library,"  for  an  enterprising  Rhode 
Islander — and  who  does  not  know  that  "  Little  Rhody's " 
children  go  far  and  wide,  and  in  many  instances  fulfill  the  Scrip- 
tural injunction  by  being  "  wise  as  serpents,"  though  not  always 
"as  harmless  as  the  dove" — has  opened  a  little  shop,  bookstore, 
and  what-not,  upon  Massachusetts  street,  and  intends  adding  a 
perambulating  collection  of  standard  works  within  the  year. 
The  person  alluded  to,  is  a  certain  Mr.  Wilmarth,  of  Providence, 
who  will — we  doubt  not — prove  "  a  credit  to  thar  diggins  " — all 
stony  though  they  be — <:  that  gave  him  birth." 

And  now,  let  us  resume  our  journalizing,  for  our  time  in  Free 
State  Kansas  grows  short,  and  our  visit  to  the  "  seat  of  war  " 
is  drawing  to  its  close.  Yes,  we  have  argued  the  matter  both 
pro  and  con — to  go  or  not  to  go,  being  the  question — but  after 
an  hour's  consideration  of  the  many  reasons  why  we  should,  and 
the  few  why  we  should  not,  return  to  the  civilized  East,  with  its 
home  comforts,  and  excellent  reputation  for  steady  habits,  we 
were  about  adjourning  the  case  to  another  sitting,  when  the 
entrance  of  our  friend,  Eldridge,  interrupted  our  cogitations,  and 
turned  the  scale  in  favor  of  to  go.  For  it  appeared  that  he  was 
about  starting  upon  the  morrow,  in  his  own  conveyance,  for 
Kansas  City,  Mo.,  the  road  to  which  passes  through  Westport 
— our  first  halting-place  upon  the  home-trail — and  was  even  then 
looking  for  us,  to  invite  "  Our  Correspondent "  to  accompany 
him  upon  the  journey  as  far  as  he  desired  to  go.  And  since 
peace  was  concluded,  and  tranquillity  restored,  we  could  see 
nothing  to  detain  'jrs,  as  a  newspaper  correspondent,  in  a  region 
where  startling  events  and  interesting  items  were  already  like 
angel's  visits,  becoming  few  and  far  between.  So  we  said  aiuen 
to  Eldridge's  proposition,  packed  our  leathern  hold-all,  and  then 
sat  down  to  write,  under  the  caption  of  January  8th,  such  last 
lines  as  the  following  : 

n 


386 


A  FREE   SOIL  MARTYR. 


Muuary  Stk. — Our  last  evening  at  the  "  Cincinnati  House." — 
The  tallow  candle  is  lighted — the  stove  red  hot — the  political 
disputants  all  assembled — our  fat  landlady  bends  over  her  everlast- 
ing stocking-mending,  and  "  Long  Sweetening  "  gabbles  away  as 
if  her  tongue  was  an  express  train,  and  considerably  behind  time 
at  that. 

"  Our  Correspondent "  occupies  his  accustomed  chair,  but  his 
usual  allowance  of  elbow-room  has  been  docked  down,  by  a  "  cir- 
cumstance," to  half  a  table,  and  "  the  circumstance,"  my  curious 
friend,  is  a  short,  duck-legged,  and  broad-shouldered  individual, 
with  an  unwholesome  complexion,  fiery  red  hair,  coarse  hands, 
and  glassy,  weak  eyes,  which  keep  blinking  under  their  faint  eye- 
lashes, like  a  night  owl's  in  the  sun.  This  "  circumstance,"  too, 
was  a  somewhat  notorious  but  withal  amusing  character  in  his 
way.  In  fine,  he  was  a  person — if  his  own  account  may  be 
credited — of  terrible  experience — a  Free-Soil  Politician  martyr  of 
class  A,  No.  1,  who  had  fought,  suffered  and  bled — 'twas  at  the  nose 
— for  the  advancement  of  Popular  Sovereignty,  Black  Republican- 
ism, and  such  like,  in  Kansas  ;  for  all  of  which  he  had  been  re- 
warded— oh  I  most  ungrateful  world  ! — by  becoming  the  butt  for 

11  People's  wicked  jokes." 

Yea,  even  among  the  "  faithful "  of  his  own  party.  But  as 
there  was  really  some  fun  in  the  animal — his  grotesque  outside 
to  the  contrary,  notwithstanding — we  determined  to  "  trot  him 
out  :"  so  with  this  praiseworthy  object  in  view,  we  entered  into 
conversation  with  the  Circumstance,  who  was  a  Colonel,  withal, 
having  been  breveted  to  that  rank  by  some  mischievous  wag, 
for  his  distinguished  services — as  his  funny  friend  expressed  it— 
in  annoying  the  Border  Ruffians  while  a  prisoner  in  their  camp, 
until  his  unbounded  loquacity  had  fairly  bored  those  worthy 
people  into  granting  the  martyr  an  unconditional  parole. 

"  Colonel,"  said  we,  after  a  conversational  opener,  upon  tTiat 


THE  CIRCUMSTANCE. 


387 


unfailing  theme,  the  weather,  "  you  seem  to  be  quite  a  literary 
man,  if  one  might  judge  from  the  closely-written  sheets  which 
you  are  so  busily  adding  to." 

The  Colonel  admits  the  soft  impeachment,  and  proceeds  to 
inform  us  that  "it  was  a  kinder  history  like  of -what  he'd  bin 
a-goin'  through,  while  under  guard  among  the  Pro-Slavery  sol- 
diers in  the  Wakaruse  " — as  he  pronounced  it — "  Camp." 

"  If  it's  a  fair  question,  Colonel,  might  we  inquire  what  you 
intend  doing  with  your  '  history,'  when  it  is  completed  ?  Is  it  to 
be  published,  or  do  you  merely  propose  to  circulate  it  in  its  pres- 
ent form  among  your  political  friends  ?" 

"  Wael,  neow,  I  guess  it  is  a-goin'  tew  be  printed,  Mister  ;  I'm 
a-ritin'  it  out  tew  send  tew  the  Editor  of  the  Nigger  Suffering 
Sympathizin'  Thunderbolt  of  Freedom. — This  name  will  do  as 
well  as  any  other. — "  I'm  a-doin'  it  up  amazin'  slick,  tew,  and 
a-fixin'  off  them  Border  Ruffians  just  about  right,  I  shouldn't 
wonder  ef  it  made  considerable  of  a  stir  when  it  gits  published. 
I  did  think  when  I  fust  thought  of  putting  my  persecutions  all 
down  on  paper,  of  sendin'  it  tew  the  Editor  of  Mr.  Harper's 
Magazine,  which  maybe  you've  hearn  tell  on ;  but  I  calculated,  after 
considerin'  a  spell,  that  the  Thunderbolt  would  pitch  intew  those 
all-fired  mean  scamps — the  Missourians — a  nation  sight  stronger." 

We  intimated  that  we  concurred  fully  in  the  Colonel's  senti- 
ments, and  expressed  an  opinion  that  the  "history  would  make 
considerable  of  a  stir."  We,  moreover,  insinuated,  as  flatteringly 
as  we  could,  that  "  Our  Correspondent"  would  be  delighted  if 
its  talented  author  could  favor  us  with  a  perusal  of  his  manu- 
script ;  to  which  our  friend,  "The  Circumstance,"  obligingly 
consents,  and  after  a  very  slight  display  of  diffidence,  hands 
over  the  first  fifteen  pages,  being  all,  as  he  says,  that  he  has 
"  vet  got  finished  up  right  slick,  and  copied  off  ready  for  the 
editur."  It  is,  moreover,  written  upon  foolscap — quite  an  ap- 
propriate selection  of  stationery — which  goes  to  prove  that 


388 


ADDING  INSULT  TO  INJURY. 


''The  Circumstance"  lias  an  innate  knowledge  of  the  fitness  of 
things,  or,  as  Mr.  Somebody  says,  "  goes  in  for  a  most  refreshing 
preservation  of  the  unities." 

We  unfold  the  manuscript — we  settle  ourself  to  read — the 
contents  arc  peppery  and  amusing  withal— the  style  knocks  Mur- 
ray and  the  writers  on  Composition  into  fits — the  spelling  is  an 
improvement  upon  Webster's  "  biggest,"  insomuch  as  "  The  Cir- 
cumstance" goes  entirely  by  sound,  or,  in  other  words,  spells 
with  a  Deown  Eastern  accent.  We  get  deeper  into  the  story — 
our  face  expands — we  have  arrived  at  the  most  solemn  part  of 
"his  suffering" — he  is  choked — he  is  reduced  to  a  solitary  shirt 
— he  endeavors  to  eat,  not  only  his  own  words,  but  somebody's 
else,  but  his  irritated  stomach  rejects  the  indignity,  and  vomits 
forth  the  written  word,  even  as  the  whale  of  old  did  Jonah — we 
go  on  with  our  reading — we  smile — we  can't  help  it — we  bury 
our  face  in  the  sheets  to  conceal  our  mirth,  for  we  are  perusing 
that  part  of  the  martyr's  narrative,  which  sets  forth  his  thrilling 
adventures  in  the  town  of  Franklin,  where — so  says  his  history — 
he  was  taken  to  a  grocery — it  may,  perchance,  be  the  same  that 
we  have  elsewhere  described — by  his  captors,  the  renowned  Sher- 
iff Jones  being  at  their  head,  and  then  and  there  compelled  to  sit 
by  and  look  on  patiently,  while  his  Border  Ruffian  guards  whiled 
away  the  night  by  playing  sundry  games  of  euchre,  with  a  due 
observance  of  the  Far  Western  rule  of  w  anti  up  or  leave  the 
board,"  "until,"  says  the  martyr,  "Sheriff  Jones  lost  forty-five 
dollars,  and  then,  beiri'  busted  up  himself,  turned  round  and 
asked  me  if  I  didn't  want  tew  take  a  hand,  which  I  guessed  waiS 
intended  to  be  a  addin'  of  injury  to  insult,  as  Mr.  Boz's  parrot 
said,  when  they  carried  him  away  from  his  native  country,  and 
made  him  study  the  English  language  afterwards." 

At  this  point  of  "The  Circumstance's"  narrative,  we  tried 
one  of  Mr.  Weller's  easy  inside  laughs,  which  proved  a  failure 
— we  could  restrain  our  mirth  no  longer — we  "  snickered  right 


A  PRO  SLAVERY  NOTICE  TO  QUIT. 


389 


out" — "  The  Circumstance"  looked  astonished — so  we  made  a 
bad  joke  to  cover  our  breach  of  etiquette,  and  tried  to  look 
sorry  and  sentimental  as  we  once  more  bent  over  the  manuscript ; 
but  it  wouldn't  do,  "  Natur'  would  have  her  way  M — we  read  a 
line  or  two — relapsed  again — apologized — burst  into  another 
roar,  and  finally,  with  a  hasty  good  night,  seized  a  tallow  can- 
dle, and  fairly  rushed  off  to  bed,  muttering  something  as  we 
went,  about  packing  up  and  an  early  start,  but,  in  reality,  to 
escape  the  sto'rm  of  wrath,  which  our  ill-timed  merriment  had 
called  forth;  for  the  unwholesome  hue  of  our  bandy-legged  "  Cir- 
cumstance's "  angry  face  was  already  rivalling  the  intensity  of 
his  fiery  red  hair,  as  the  worthy  Colonel  strove  in  vain  to  stam- 
mer out  his  indignation. 

And  now,  let  us  add  another  medley  of  useful  information, 
ere  we  say  farewell  to  Kansas,  and  take  the  homeward  road. 

The  following  is  an  abstract  of  a  letter  addressed  to  the  editor 
of  the  "  Missouri  Democrat,"  by  a — Free  State — Kansas  Cor- 
respondent.   It  may  very  properly  be  headed 

A  BORDER  RUFFIAN  NOTTOE  TO  LEAVE,  ETC. 

Kansas,  Monday,  Feb.  18, 1S56. 
The  Kickapoo  Rangers,  who  are  reported  to  be  collecting  in  the  vicinity 
of  Eastin,  have  sent  the  following  letter  to  Mr.  Sparks,  advising  him  1o 
leave  : — 

TO  STEPHEN  SPARES. 

The  undersigned,  as  you  are  aware,  are  citizens  of  this  neighborhood. 
Many  of  us  have  como  hero  with  our  families,  intending  to  make  Kansas 
our  permanent  home.  It  is  our  interests  and  desire  that  peace  and  good 
will  prevail  among  us,  and  whatever  may  conduce  to  this  desirable  end 
will  meet  our  hearty  approval. 

The  local  excitements  that  have  occurred  in  this  vicinity  have  been  prin- 
cipally attributed  to  you,  and,  as  we  believe,  justly.  You  have  figured 
in  them  conspicuously,  and  in  the  affair  at  Eastin,  more  reprehensibly  than 
ever. 


390 


what's  in  the  wind  ? 


Believing,  therefore,  that  your  further  residence  among  us  is  incompati* 
ble  with  the  peace  and  welfare  of  this  community,  we  advise  you  to  leave 
as  soon  as  you  can  conveniently  do  so. 

[Here  follow  the  signatures  of  thirty-seven  persons.] 

I  have  copied  the  above  from  the  original  letter  sent  to  this  city  by  Mr. 
Sparks,  who  says  he  knows  several  of  those  whose  names  appear  affixed  to 
the  letter.  The  letter  is  written  in  a  plain,  legible  hand,  and  neither  of  the 
signatures  correspond  with  it,  showing  that  the  document  was  prepared 
with  some  care,  and  by  one  not  on  hand  to  sign  it  at  the  time  it  was 
sent. 

Mr.  Sparks,  you  will  doubtless  remember,  was  taken  prisoner  at  the 
election  at  Eastin,  on  the  17th  of  February  last,  by  the  Rangers,  and  after- 
wards rescued  by  Brown  with  fifteen  men. 

Note. — For  this  act,  Brown — according  to  Free  State  letter- 
writers — was  subsequently  taken  prisoner  by  a  party  of  the 
Rangers,  and  put  to  death. 

WHAT  IS   IN  THE  WIND? 

The  "  Independence  Dispatch '  states  that  the  militia  of  the  border 
counties  in  Missouri,  are  to  rendezvous  at  Fort  Scott,  in  this  Territory,  on 
the  29th  of  February.  What  business  has  the  military  forces  of  Missouri 
in  Kansas  ?  and  why  do  they  concentrate  their  strength  at  Fort  Scott  at 
that  particular  juncture  ? 

It  is  a  fact,  that  military  organizations  have  been  forming  everywhere 
along  the  border  in  Missouri,  consisting  generally  of  mounted  riflemen. 
We  have  observed  these"  demonstrations  for  some  time,  and  now  comes  a 
notice  to  invade  the  Territory  on  the  29th  inst. 

Senator  Atchison,  in  his  speech  at  Platte  City,  a  few  days  ago,  told  his 
friends  to  hold  themselves  in  readiness  against  the  4th  of  March,  when 
they  would  be  called  upon  to  march  into  the  Territory. 

NEWSPAPERS  IN  KANSAS. 

Leavenworth  Herald. — Democratic  and  Pro  Slavery  in  its 
politics — published  weekly  at  Leavenworth  City.    This  was  the 


NEWSPAPERS  IN  KANSAS. 


391 


first  newspaper  established  in  the  Territory — on  the  23rd  of  Dec. 
1855,  it  had  reached  the  15th  No.  of  its  second  volume.  It  is 
edited  by  Brig.  Geo.  Lucien  J.  Eastin — Reeves  Pollard,  a  rela- 
tion of  the  Hon.  William  C.  Reeves,  acts  as  its  corresponding 
editor  at  Washington  City.  Its  subscription  list  is  estimated  at 
2,500.  It  is  furnished  at  $2  00  per  annum  in  advance  ;  this  is, 
we  believe,  the  uniform  price  of  all  newspapers  in  Kansas — 
there  being  as  yet,  no  Daily  printed  in  the  Territory.  Eastin 
and  Adams  are  the  proprietors  of  the  Leavenworth  Herald. 

Squatter  Sovereign. — Published  at  Atchison,  on  Nov.  6th, 
had  reached  the  39th  No.  of  the  first  volume.  Democratic  and 
Pro-Slavery — subscription  list  estimated  at  2,200.  Edited  by 
Stringfellow  and  Reby,  who  are  also  its  proprietors. 

Kansas  Pioneer. — Published  at  Kickapoo,  Leavenworth  Co., 
Pro-Slavery  and  Know  Nothing.  On  9th  Dec.  had  reached  6th 
No.  of  2d  volume,  edited  by  A.  B.  Hazzard,  Wm.  P.  Berry, 
its  assistant  editor,  is  said  to  own  the  paper. 

Herald  of  Freedom. — Published  at  Lawrence.  Edited  by 
William  Gr.  Brown.  The  Kansas  Correspondent  of  the  St 
Louis  Democrat,  a  Free  Soil  sheet,  writes,  as  we  are  informed, 
to  that  paper — that  this  journal  lost  $6,000  during  the  first 
year.    Is  ultra  Free  State. 

The  Lawrence  Tribune  was  formerly  published  at  Lawrence, 
and  was  edited  by  S.  N.  Wood  and  Spear,  but  is  now  either 
defuuct  or  removed  to  some  other  part  of  the  Territory.  It 
was  Free  State  in  its  politics. 

Kansas  Free  State,  published  at  Lawrence.  Free  State  in 
its  politics.    Miller  and  Elliot  editors  and  proprietors. 

Kansas  Freeman,  Free  State  ;  published  at  Topeka,  Shawnee 
Co.,  edited  by  B.  C.  K.  Garvey,  an  Irishman.  This  journal 
was  the  organ  of  the  Free  State  Convention  at  Topeka,  during 
its  session,  to  report  whose  proceedings  it  published  a  daily  until 
the  adjournment. 


392 


KICKAPOO  VOLUNTEERS. 


Territorial  Register,  owned  and  edited  by  Mark  W.  Dela- 
haye,  the  Free  State  candidate  for  Delegate  to  Congress,  an 
ultra  Free  State  sheet  ;  the  press  and  type  of  this  journal  were 
thrown  into  the  Missouri  river  by  a  mob,  last  month  ;  the  cause 
of  complaint  alleged  being  certain  slanderous  attacks  upon  the 
moral  character  of  the  Kickapoo  Yolunteers. 

The  prospectuses  of  several  new  papers  on  both  sides  are  out, 
but  we  shall  content  ourself  with  giving  a  list  of  those  now  in 
existence. 


A  BARNUAI  BUT  NO  HUMBUG. 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

LAST  LINES. 

And  now  we  must  be  brief;  suffice  it  to  say  then,  that  we  left 
Lawrence  at  an  early  hour  upon  the  9th,  reached  Westport,  Mo., 
upon  the  evening  of  that  day,  where  we  booked  ourself,  per  force, 
by  Smashup's  line  for  Jefferson.  City,  where  we  arrived  with, 
wonderful  to  relate,  only  one  serious  upset  upon  the  14th.  Here, 
as  we  are  very  independent,  we  gave  Smashup  and  Co  the  cold 
shoulder,  by  taking  our  own  conveyance — our  trustworthy 
Shank's  mare,  for  the  Gasconade,  a  distance  of  some  five  and 
forty  miles,  which  we  walked  upon  the  railroed  ties  in  two  days. 
Then  came  Herman,  from  whence  we  travelled  by  the  Pacific 
railroad  to  St  Louis,  where  we  put  up  at  Barnum's,  one  of  the 
few  hotels  in  the  Western  country,  which  we  have  any  know- 
ledge of,  that  is  not  a  Barnum  in  more  senses  than  one.  Here 
we  tarried  one  night,  and  in  the  morning  pursued  our  way  east- 
ward ;  but  as  we  have  already  given  the  reader  a  somewhat 
lengthy  sketch  of  our  journey  westward  to  St.  Louis,  we  will 
bid  him  good-bye  so  far  as  our  incidents  of  travel  go  at  this  point, 
for  railroading  is  very  much  the  same  thing,  whether  you  go  or 
come. 

And  finally,  for  a  grand  display  of  rhetorical  fireworks,  by 
way  of  finish  to  our  history  of  the  Wakarusa  war  ;  we  would 
respectfully  request  that  we  may  be  permitted  to  introduce  the 
following. 

We  are  about  to  say  a  long  farewell  to  Kansas,  unless,  indeed, 


394 


WHAT   KANSAS  NEEDS. 


her  good  citizens  should  graciously  condescend  to  get  up  another 
war,  in  which  case  we  shall  be  on  hand  with  all  convenient  speed 
to  see  the  fray,  and  it  may  be,  "  write  up  "  its  history.  But  for  the 
present,  good-bye  to  the  Territory — a  sad  farewell  withal,  for — 
political  rows,  and  this  bitter  winter  weather,  always  excepted — 
we  are  disposed  to  like  Kansas;  moreover,  we  believe  in  Kansas, 
for  she  will,  at  some  future  day,  accomplish  much  greater  things 
than  party  quarrels,  or  Wakarusa  wars.  Her  strength  is  within 
herself — she  has  natural  advantages  which  nothing  but  the 
Almighty's  arm  can  wrest  from  her  grasp — a  fertile  soil — a 
healthy  climate — a  wide  expanse  of  territory — the  want  of  timber 
being  her  only  indwelling  drawback.  Give  her  these,  and — we 
care  not  whether  they  come  from  the  North  or  from  the  South — 
for  we  have  in  this  matter  no  sectional  prejudices — give  her,  we 
say,  but  a  sufficiency  of  true-hearted,  and  able-bodied  Anglo- 
Saxon  men  and  women,  every-day  working-people,  not  fine  ladies 
and  gentlemen,  not  broken-down  politicians,  or  pot-house-rant- 
ing fillibusters,  and  we  will  venture  to  predict  that  the  moral 
atmosphere  of  the  Territory  would  clear  itself  from  its  impuri- 
ties within  six  months  time,  but  above  all  things,-  let  the  men 
who  are  to  till  those  yet  unbroken  acres,  aud  ere  long  make  the 
laws  of  the  State,  which  is  soon  to  take  her  glorious  place  among 
the  proud  sisterhood  of  the  Republic,  be  conservatives.  For  it  is 
a  well-established  fact,  that  as  Radicalism  is  the  disorganizer, 
so  is  Conservatism  not  only  the  pacificator  but  the  absolute  pre- 
server of  the  frontier.  And  we  feel  assured  that  if  those  who 
claim  to  be  the  best  friends  of  Kansas — and  in  saying  this  we 
reiterate  our  disclaimer  of  any  sectional  leanings — would  but  be 
satisfied  to  attend  to  their  own  affairs,  and  let  border  disturbances 
alone,  it  would  be  infinitely  better  for  the  Territory  and  a  real 
blessing  to  its  inhabitants.  Nations,  like  individuals,  derive  but 
little  benefit  from  officious  outside  interference,  however  well 
intended  it  may  be. 


BARKING  BUT  NOT  BITING  DOGS. 


395 


When  we  started  for  Kansas,  we  expected  to  see  a  fight,  a 
"  free-fight "  at  that,  but  we  have  been  disappointed.  For  though 
we  found  her  political  lions  quite  ready  to  growl,  and  not  unwil- 
ling to  show  their  teeth  ;  yet,  when  it  came  to  using  them,  they — 
as  a  Western  man  would  quaintly  express  it — "  want  thar,"  and 
we  don't  believe  that  many  of  them  would  have  been  "  thar"  if  the 
struggle  had  come.  This  is,  therefore,  to  our  mind,  another 
reason — as  we  would  be  denied  even  the  poor  consolation  of 
knowing  that  a  conflict  might  rid  us  of  some  bad  men — for 
deprecating  most  strenuously  either  incendiary  speeches  or  in- 
flammatory publications,  for  all  these  things  can  tend  to  but 
one  result,  and  that  is,  to  arouse  the  worst  passions  of  the 
most  brutal  and  least  reflecting  people  ;  and  believe  us,  that 
there  are  none  who  appreciate  more  fully  than  some  of  the  lead* 
ing  agitators  in  Kansas  the  truth  of  the  assertion — that  it  is 
far  easier  to  excite  a  mob,  than  to  restraiu  that  mob,  when  evil  coun- 
sels have  done  their  irritating  work.  And  furthermore,  do  not 
e very-day  occurrences  prove  that  those  who  are  readiest  to 

"  Cry  havoc  and  let  loose  the  dogs  of  war," 

are  not  always  the  first  to  be  in  at  the  death? 

But  we  are  not  prepared  to  admit  that  a  reasonable  amount  of 
"  blood-letting,"  might  not,  at  one  time,  have  done  the  future 
Kansas  a  world  of  good,  that  is  to  say,  if  the  bleeding  could 
have  been  confined  to  her  own  "  body  politic."  But  when  Kansas 
bleeds,  Georgia  must  open  her  veins,  and  Massachusetts  too, 
for  when  this  comes  to  pass  it  requires  no  prophet  to  foretell  a 
struggle  which  will  crimson  alike  the  Missouri  and  the  Hudson. 
Were  it  otherwise,  we  would  declare  ourself  an  upholder  of  the 
doctrine  that  "a  little  fighting  saves  a  deal  of  quarrelling.'" 
But  of  one  thing  we  feel  confident,  Kansas  Territory  has  already 
been  the  theatre  of  too  many  windy  battles,  in  which  words — 
.words — words — bad  words — harsh  words — devilish  words — have 


396 


A  LUXATIC  ASYLUM  FOR  DEMAGOGUES. 


been  rattled  down  like  hail-stones,  night  after  night,  and  day 
after  day,  by  interested  talkers  upon  either  side,  who  didn't  care 
a  brass  farthing  whether  the  true  interests  of  the  people  went 
to  Pandemonium  or  not,  so  long  as  they — Messrs.  A  B  and  C, 
the  chief  strikers  upon  the  political  anvil— got  an  office.  Would 
to  God  that  this  great,  and  at  -present  happy  country,  had  some 
vast  lunatic  asylum,  located,  if  you  please,  amid  the  wilds  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  where  tried  and  convicted  demagogues  from 
all  quarters  of  the  Union,  could  find  a  homo,  be  supported  at 
the  public  expense,  and  punished  by  a  forced  perusal  of  their 
own  mischief-making  speeches,  and  verily,  if  this  book  could  but 
accomplish  the  establishment  of  so  laudable  an  institution,  we,  its 
author,  should  feel  more  than  compensated  for  our  labor  and  our 
time.    Finallv  then, 

"  Farewell,  and  if  forever,  still  farewell " 

to  Kansas  and  her  children.  We  have,  if  we  mistake  not,  left 
behind  us,  among  our  newly-formed  friends  of  both  the  Free  State 
and  Pro-Slavery  parties,  many  sincere  well-wishers,  whose  kind 
regards  will  accompany  us  to  our  far  Eastern  home,  and  to 
whom  our  heart  goes  out,  across  the  weary  miles  which  separate 
us,  and  we  flatter  ourself,  too,  that  for  a  New  Yorker,  and  a  news- 
paper correspondent,  we  have  been  wonderfully  successful  in  our 
fraternizing  with  the  so-called,  "  Border  Ruffians,"  a  title,  by  the 
way,  in  which  the  residents  of  the  frontier  counties  of  Missouri 
take  no  little  pride.  We  have  even  told  you  of  a  lady  who,  at 
a  Kansas  "  sociable,"  refused  to  accept  the  hand  of  a  Free  State 
gentleman  in  the  dance,  because  she  was  a  "  Border  Ruffian." 
The  epithet  is  therefore  not  one  of  reproach,  save  in  the  mouths 
of  their  political  opponents.  And  since  we  have  touched  upon 
the  subject,  permit  us,  before  closing  this  paragraph,  to  remark 
that  a  "  Border  Ruffian  "  is  not  always,  as  many  would  have 
you  to  suppose,  necessarily  either  a  villian,  a  low-bred  fellow, 


THE  BORDER  RUFFIAN'S  BETTER  HALF. 


397 


or  a  cold-blooded  assassin,  and  jet  were  you  to  credit  all  that  you 
hear,  and  we  regret  to  add,  much  that  you  read,  you  might 
easily  imagine  that  the  Border  Ruffian  was  a  horrible  compound 
of  the  three;  in  fact,  a  man  so  utterly  degraded  as  to  be  unworthy 
of  the  Bible,  and  an  outlaw,  not  only  in  the  eyes  of  Christian  men, 
but  even  to  those  who  tell  us  weekly  from  their  pulpits,  of  the 
blessings  accorded  to  the  peace-makers,  who  shall  be  called  the 
children  of  God. 

Let  us,  then — who  have  seen  with  our  own  eyes,  and  heard 
these  matters  with  our  personal  ears,  which  are,  we  assure  you, 
quite  as  long,  but  no  longer  than  those  of  other  people — sketch 
the  inner  and  mental,  as  we  have  already  done  the  outer  and 
physical  man  of  this  much  abused  class  of  our  Native  American 
brotherhood. 

The  Border  Ruffian,  as  the  better  half  of  his  sobriquet  indi- 
cates,  is  born  and,  as  he  himself  would  express  it,  "raised  "  upon 
the  Border.  He  is  generally  a  person  of  great  endurance,  strong 
limbs,  iron  constitution,  and  undoubted  personal  courage  ;  he 
is,  however,  subjected  to  all  the  intellectual  disadvantages  and 
deprivations  of  bodily  comforts,  which  are  the  inseparable  ac- 
companiments of  a  life  upon  the  frontier.  But,  if  some  things 
have  been  denied,  others  have  .been  granted  ;  he  can  do  that, 
my  city  friend,  which  you  cannot*;  we  would  back  him  against 
you,  and  take"  long  odds  upon  the  issue,  in  a  "  rough  and  tum- 
ble "  fight  ;  where  you  would  fail  in  hitting  a  barn-door  with 
your  rifle,  he  would  draw  the  same  weapon  upon  a  squirrel,  and 
turn  coolly  round,  with  his  fore-finger  upon  the  trigger,  to  ask 
you  "  where  you  would  have  him  shot  ?  in  the  right  eye,  or  did 
you  allow  to  prefer  the  other  V9  If  you  can  flourish  a  yard 
stick,  my  nice  young  man,  he  understands  the  bowie  knife  ;  and 
though  he  couldn't  do  much  at  a  "  polka  redowa  n — "  first  time 
off" — he'd  trouble  you  at  a  foot-race,  and  ride  the  scariest 
horse  that  ever  put  you  in  fear  of  your  life,  between  Brooklyn 


398 


ROUGH,   BUT  NO  RUFFIAN. 


Ferry  and  John  Eyes.  Be  candid,  then,  and  admit  that  in 
physical  accomplishments  at  least,  he  is  your  equal.  But  stay, 
we  haven't  done  with  you  yet  ;  we  want  you  to  acknowledge 
something  more.  Would  you  have  done  better  had  you  been  in 
his  place  ?  Allow  a  little  latitude  then,  for  a  difference  in 
tastes,  pursuits,  circumstances,  and  above  all  in  training.  He 
sees  the  world  in  his  way,  not  in  yours  ;  habit  has  taught  him 
to  consider  a  "bar  fight  "good  fun,  and  a  well-chinked  log- 
cabin  a  "  right  smart  house."  You  might  consider  the  one  a 
very  terrible  sort  of  amusement,  and  the  other  hardly  fit  for  a 
cow-shed.  What  wonder,  then,  if  our  Border  Ruffian  be  a  little 
rough  ?  Try  it  for  yourself ;  spend  six  months  in  his  shauty, 
and  we  will  venture  to  say  that,  at  the  end  of  your  probation, 
your  dear  friend,  who  used  to  know  you  very  well  upon  Broad- 
way, wouldn't  be-able  to  "  tell  tother  from  which,"  no,  not  even 
with  the  assistance  of  his  best  eye-glass.  But  does  it  necessarily 
follow  that  our  "  outsider"  must,  therefore,  degenerate  into  a 
beast,  or  even  be  lacking  in  those  finer  qualifications  of  head 
and  heart,  which,  after  all,  make  or  mar  the  man  ?  We  an- 
swer, most  emphatically,  no.  For  as  a  general  thing,  and  we 
speak  from  a  very  large  personal  experience  of  American  fron- 
tiersmen, as  they  really  are,  we  firmly  believe  that,  in  these  re- 
spects, they  will  compare — considering  their  educational  defects 
— favorably  with  the  inhabitants  of  any  of  our  sea-board  States, 
and  we  defy  any  man  or  any  set  of  men  to  prove  the  contrary. 
Nay,  we  will  even  go  further,  and  declare  that,  were  you  to  test 
this  thing,  and  in  so  doing,  place  the  man  of  the  log-cabin  beside 
the  man  of  our  metropolitan  mansions,  we  would,  in  nine  cases  out 
of  ten,  back  the  Border  Ruflian  for  natural  intelligence,  sterling 
integrity,  and  true  worth,  not  to  mention  honor,  against  the  smooth 
tongued,  accurately-attired  citizen,  and  trust  confidently  to  the 
result  to  uphold  our  decision.  Strike  out  the  names  of  our  self- 
made  and  rudely-nurtured  men  from  the  records  of  American 


THE  MOMENTOUS  QUESTION. 


399 


genius,  literature,  enterprise,  and  patriotism,  and  then  tell  us,  if 
you  please,  how  much  would  there  be  left  upon  the  page,  which 
History  might  find  worthy  of  recording  ?  We  cry  shame,  there- 
fore, upon  the  wholesale  defamation  of  our  own  Far  Western  cit- 
izens, which  has,  of  late,  been  scattered  broad-cast  through  the 
land.  If  the  shell  be  rough,  does  it  then  follow  that  there  is  no 
sweetness  in  its  kernel  ?  or  must  the  diamond  be  deemed  value- 
less, because  there  is  no  polish  upon  the  stone  ? 

And  now,  a  word  or  two  on  the  other  side.  Ultra  Pro-Sla- 
very men  generally,  and  more  particularly  the  Missourians,  are 
but  too  much  in  the  habit  of  denouncing  every  one  with  whom 
they  come  in  contact — who  is  known  to  be  a  native,  or  even  a 
resident  of  a  Free  State — as  a  fanatic,  an  Abolitionist,  a  negro- 
stealer,  or,  for  that  matter,  almost  anything  which  is  bad,  low, 
vile,  and  irreclaimable.  They  make  the  question  of  Slavery,  in 
season  and  out  of  season,  a  sine  qua  non — an  all-proving  touch- 
stone— by  which  every  man's  moral  and  political  character  must, 
in  their  estimation,  either  stand  or  fall,  as  his  belief  inclines  to 
the  one  side  or  the  other.  There  is,  in  fact,  but  one  question 
asked,  and  that  is,  "  Do  you  endorse  the  peculiar  institutions  of 
the  South  V  or,  as  they  define  it,  "  Are  you  all  right  on  the 
goose  ?"  If  you,  being  Free  State  born,  answer  yea,  you  may 
be  believed,  or,  as  frequently  happens,  be  charged  openly  or  in 
secret,  with  approving  a  doctrine  by  words,  which  you  really  do 
not  endorse  at  heart.  If,  on  the  contrary,  you  should  answer 
nay,  then  look  out  for  .squalls  ;  you  may  simply  be  insulted,  but 
in  some  parts  of  the  country,  you  might  be  tarred  and  feathered, 
and  that  too,  without  benefit  of  clergy.  All  this,  of  course,  ap- 
plies to  a  certain  class,  who  are  as  great  fanatics  in  their  way, 
as  the  most  incendiary  Eastern  Abolitionists,  and  we  regret  to 
add  that  this  fillibustering  class,  under  the  influence  of  an  ill- 
judged  outside  pressure,  is  increasing  daily  ;  indeed,  it  would 
almost  seem  that  the  South  was  really  striving  to  see  the  North 


400 


FAREWELL. 


in  its  worst  possible  light,  until,  in  their  legislative  assemblies, 
and  public  meetings,  as  well  as  in  the  editorials  of  their  journals, 
we  hear  naught  but  disunion— Southern  rights — war  to  the 
knife — and  such  like  phrases,  which  must  sound  badly  abroad, 
and  ought  to  be  regarded  as  a  national  disgrace  at  home. 

And  now,  farewell  1  Take  care  of  yourselves,  good  people, 
and  if  you  will  go  to  Kansas,  go  there  as  conservative  and  law- 
abiding  men.  They  feel  the  want  of  such  persons  there  now,  and 
will,  it  may  be,  need  them  still  more  in  the  stormy  times  to 
come  ;  for,  let  the  citizens  of  the  United  States  take  it  to  heart, 
that  this  disturbance  in  Kansas  means  something.  At  present, 
two  thousand  conservative  men  would  do  more  to  save  Kansas 
and  the  Union  than  you 

"  Good  easy  men,  who  think  full  surely  that 
Your  greatness  is  a  ripening," 

may  ever  condescend  to  realize  until  it  is  too  late. 

Suit  unm  fatallq,  faamBlL 


THE  END. 


.J 


